The City of Logroño has hosted this morning a meeting of the Local Security Board, chaired by the mayor, Conrado Escobar, and the delegate of the Government in La Rioja, Beatriz Arraiz, and which has been focused on the security device of the next festivities of San Mateo, which will be held from September 20 to 26.
The delegate of the Government in La Rioja, Beatriz Arraiz Nalda, has announced that, in mid-September, the National Police will begin a device of prevention of citizen security, strengthening the nightlife areas, emphasizing the fight against the consumption of narcotic substances in these leisure areas and the possession of prohibited weapons.
For the festivities of San Mateo, Arraiz Nalda has specified that the realization of the service is planned to be carried out with 427 national police.
A special mechanism will be implemented in the area of citizen security, especially reinforcing public events of people’s congregations with response from the UPR unit (Prevention and Reaction Unit), in support of the Citizen Care Group (GAC) and the Operational Response Group (GOR).
The 5 Brigades belonging to the Superior Headquarters will be reinforced with the presence of almost 100 agents of UIP (Police Intervention Units) to guarantee security throughout the mateas parties and reinforcing this security device on the day of the rocket.
In addition, the police belonging to the Mobile Brigade in the transport will strengthen security at the train and bus stations, where they will control the documentation of travelers. For its part, the Cavalry Unit for large crowds of people will operate in the vicinity of the bullring in bullfighting and the Canine Guides Unit will focus on the fight against drug possession and trafficking;
Another unit that will be part of the San Mateo device will be that of Aerial Media, with drone and anti-drone to control security and avoid the intrusion of possible unmanned aircraft. The helicopter will also be present, which will be responsible for providing air safety on the day of the shooting of the rocket in the City of Logroño and its surroundings.
On the other hand, inspections and security checks will be carried out in places of interest and of public influx by the TEDAX-NRBQ (Technicians specialized in deactivation of explosives - Nuclear, Radiological, Biological and Chemical). Likewise, the surveillance service by the Provincial Intelligence Brigade will be reinforced with civilian devices, responding to Level 4 of Anti-Terrorist Alert, both in bus and train stations.
For the Citizen Security service, the patrol service will have the collaboration of European police in the framework of Collaboration with the International Cooperation Division. Specifically, 5 agents from France, Italy and Portugal.
The Provincial Judicial Police Brigade will strengthen the service for the prevention of damage to urban furniture and in prevention and response to possible theft of mobile phones or wallets and bags, especially to avoid theft of carelessness.
On the other hand, the Provincial Brigade of Foreigners, in the framework of collaboration with the EMPACT Agency in prevention and fight against Trafficking in Human Beings, Sexual Exploitation, Forced Crime and Begging, will carry out inspections and controls in places of interest.
For his part, the mayor of Logroño has indicated that "the festivities of San Mateo are a moment of encounter, joy and enjoyment for thousands of Logroñeses and Logroñesas, as well as for those who visit us in these days from other points of Spain or even abroad. And to guarantee parties with the highest levels of security, we have the commitment and coordinated work between the different administrations and between the Local Police and National Police themselves.”
Escobar stressed that “Logroño is a safe city, and it is largely thanks to this coordinated work that takes place throughout the year and that we intensify on these holidays in which we have a greater influx of people in our streets to enjoy San Mateo with responsibility and tranquility”.
Thus, the mayor has detailed, the coordination between Local Police and National Police is “permanent, to give the most effective and agile response possible to any situation that may occur”. Likewise, he has indicated that there will be a police presence of both bodies, both motorized and on foot, including civilian patrols, especially in those areas of greater influx and concentration of people.
Both police forces will also collaborate in joint citizen and road safety controls.
The device enabled by the Local Police will have 216 agents distributed in three shifts (morning, afternoon and night), both on foot and in 50 vehicles. There will be a special presence of patrols, both uniformed and civilian, in areas such as the Old Town, the city center, Las Norias and the fairgrounds.
These patrols will be responsible for guaranteeing citizen security and responding early to any disturbance of public order, fights, etc. They will also focus their work on the detection of pickpockets and prevention of theft, as well as on the control of illegal street selling.
There will be a police presence in all the festive events held on the public highway and those that generate large concentrations of people, such as tastings, concerts, children's shows, etc. A police device will also be established at the entrance and exit of the bullring, for the parade of floats, fireworks, the trampling of the grapes, the concentration of rocks, parade end of parties and burning of the tub.
In the fairgrounds there will be a permanent team made up of two patrols and a coordinating officer.
In collaboration with the National Police, a device will be established to control uncivil acts and ensure public safety in areas where bottling is usually detected, such as the Revellín or the Ebro Park. A control of compliance with the closing hours of the hotel establishments will also be carried out.
Access to the Town Hall Square on the day of the announcing rocket
On the occasion of the launch of the rocket announcing the festivities of San Mateo 2025, on Saturday, September 20 at 12:00 hours, there will be a special security device with the participation of Local Police, National Police and Civil Protection volunteers, among others. An access control to the Town Hall Square will be carried out in order to guarantee the security and proper development of this festive event. Specifically, there will be about 130 Local Police officers who will participate in this rocket device.
Dangerous objects, drinks or food that may cause dirt or damage in the event of being thrown, as well as packaging or detergent products, may not be introduced into the enclosure. However, the access of wine boots will be allowed.
Given the foreseeable mass influx to the event, specific areas of entry and exit to the venue will be enabled.
The entrance areas, which will be duly signposted, will be through the following streets: Bishop Bustamante, Tricio, Avenue of Columbus, Avenue of Peace, Pious Schools, Twelve Lighthouses and Paseo de la Constitución.
For security reasons, and to avoid risks of avalanches, the part of Avenida de la Paz with Juan XXIII, next to the ESDIR, will be only for departure and will not be accessible to the interior of the Plaza del Ayuntamiento from that point.
The Local Police remind attendees of the importance of planning their arrival at the Town Hall Square well in advance and in an orderly manner to avoid risks. It is necessary to keep in mind that it is not possible to try to access the square 5 or 10 minutes before the firing of the rocket.