Crime in Barcelona has experienced an increase of 8.6% in 2023, according to data provided by the Barcelona City Council and the Department of the Interior of the Generalitat de Catalunya, reaching a total of 209,805 cases.
This figure reflects a worrying trend that is of concern to local residents and the authorities in charge of ensuring security in the city.
Among the most common crimes, theft ranks first, accounting for almost half of all reported offenses. This is followed by swindling, which accounts for 15.1% of reported crimes.
This increase in criminal activity has led to a 23% increase in the number of arrests and an 11.4% increase in the number of persons investigated compared to the previous year.
Despite increase in crime in Barcelona, police say number down
Despite these worrying figures, the director of the Mossos d’Esquadra, Catalonia’s autonomous police force, pointed out that the number of crimes is still below the levels recorded in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
This suggests that although crime has increased compared to the previous year, the situation has not yet reached pre-health crisis levels.
It is important to note that while crimes have increased compared to the previous year, they have generally decreased compared to 2019 levels. This suggests that Barcelona remains a relatively safe city compared to pre-pandemic years.
However, the perception of insecurity among citizens is high, indicating the need to address this problem in a comprehensive manner.
Authorities have identified several areas of focus to address the growing criminal activity in the city. This includes working on legislative changes that allow for a more effective response to different types of crime, as well as addressing issues such as multi-recidivism and public health.
In addition, the importance of resolving cases and ensuring that court rulings are adequate to meet the needs of the public has been emphasized.
Public safety concerns
Public safety in Barcelona has been a constant concern, especially for local residents, amid a steady growth in crime in the city.
The growing concern about security is reflected in the latest barometer conducted by the City Council, which revealed that 27.7% of those surveyed consider insecurity to be the main problem facing Barcelona today.
In addition, the authorities are taking measures to address the situation, such as increasing police activity and implementing legislative changes.
Although some crimes, such as scams, have increased in recent years, the overall trend shows an improvement in public safety in Barcelona.
