Benidorm brings together more than 700 agents from all over Spain at the I National Congress of Local Police

• The mayor welcomes all participants and highlights that security is one of the most valued aspects in the city
   

It featured a presentations by Supreme Court judges, police officers and experts, with the demand for a national Local Police law as a prominent topic. On Saturday there will be exhibitions open to the public.

More than 700 Local Police officers from twenty cities in Spain have gathered in Benidorm to participate in the I National Congress of Local Police, which started this Friday and in which numerous activities will take place over two days. The mayor of Benidorm and president of the Provincial Council, Toni Pérez, welcomed all the participants during the opening ceremony of this congress, which is being held in Terra Mítica, and thanked the National Union of Police Chiefs and Commanders Local (Unijempol) the trust placed in the city to host the first edition of it. 

Along with Toni Pérez, the general secretary of the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP), Luis Martínez-Sicluna, also attended the opening ceremony; the judges of the Supreme Court Vicente Magro, Antonio del Moral, Susana Polo or the also former attorney general of the State Julián Sánchez Melgar; the senior judge of Benidorm, Joan Francesc Vives; the general secretary of the Valencian Federation of Municipalities and Provinces, Miguel Baiach; Senator Agustín Almodóbar; the regional deputy, José Ramón González de Zárate; and numerous members of the municipal Corporation. Likewise, they have also supported the Local Police, headed by its chief mayor, Luis Arévalo, the commissioner of the National Police in Benidorm, Ceferino Serrano; and the lieutenant colonel of the Civil Guard of Calp, Jerónimo Pacheco, along with other police officers from different parts of the country. 

During his appearance, the first mayor explained to those present that "in any of the surveys and samplings that we do to satisfy tourists in our city, with a sun like the one that shines today, such a benign climate or unique beaches that are among the best in the world in urban beaches, the highest level of satisfaction shown by those who visit us is in the perception of safety, many points above the rest", an issue that has largely been attributed to the role played by the Local Police officers. 

“The perception of security is fundamental, because it is what makes people feel free and see our rights and freedom guaranteed, which is talked about so little because some insist on talking very little about it,” Toni explained. Pérez, who has also defended that “universal accessibility, efficient mobility, the digital transformation of society, sustainability in the triple dimension – axes in which Benidorm has been working for a long time – make little sense if when we leave home or when We are in it, we do not feel safe.”

Pérez also recalled that this congress “was born from a triple alliance in which we participate, together with Unijempol and the Police Union at the Valencian Community level”, after the two meetings of officers that Benidorm already hosted in previous years. Finally, he expressed his satisfaction that this event “has aroused so much interest” and has been convinced that it will serve to “train, know, learn and come out better than we all arrived.” 

Throughout this Friday and throughout the day tomorrow, within the framework of this congress, different presentations, activities and exhibitions will take place. The more than 700 participants coming from more than twenty cities throughout the country will debate current issues of the Local Police such as the future of the force, the connection with citizens to improve security and the locality, the detection of cases of sexual trafficking, the Local Police as judicial police or the use of weapons and their consequences, among others. Likewise, the need to develop a national Local Police law to unify criteria will be addressed. 

Among the speakers who will participate these days in the different round tables are judges of the Supreme Court, police officers, representatives of the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP) or experts in different fields, such as communication or computer crimes, among others. 

In addition to the presentations, the congress has also organised a series of activities for companions, such as a visit to the city by open-top bus, a visit to the beach and the Mundomar animal park.

In addition, today, Saturday, starting at 10 a.m., there will be an exhibition day of police and military units open to the general public at Terra Mítica. The Canine Unit of the Benidorm Local Police will participate in it; the Reserve and Security Group (GRS) of the Civil Guard; the Parachute Brigade (BRIPAC) of the Army and the TASER electronic control device. It will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Circus Maximus in Terra Mí