Police union warns of “critical” conditions at Benidorm station and calls for urgent action

Beindorm / 1 April 2026

A leading Spanish police union has raised serious concerns over the condition of the National Police station in Benidorm, describing the facility as “unsustainable” and calling for immediate intervention from the Spain's Ministry of the Interior .

The Unified Police Union (SUP) claims the station, which opened in 1978, has never undergone a full renovation and is now suffering from significant structural, operational and safety deficiencies.

Long-standing issues and delayed reforms

The warning follows recent comments by Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, who confirmed plans for a future refurbishment of the building. However, the union says the project is “more than two decades overdue” and is demanding clear timelines and immediate interim measures.

According to the SUP, the current state of the station is affecting both working conditions for officers and the level of service provided to the public in the wider Marina Baixa region — a key tourist area on Spain’s Costa Blanca.

Structural and operational concerns

• The union highlights a range of issues, including:
• Outdated electrical systems and poor air conditioning
• Water leaks affecting multiple floors
• Overcrowded offices and lack of privacy for public-facing services

Insufficient changing and staff facilities

Operational shortcomings have also been flagged, with concerns over:

• Inadequate areas for detainees and seized materials
• Lack of charging infrastructure for hybrid police vehicles
• Closure of the on-site shooting range, requiring officers to travel elsewhere for training

Safety and accessibility risks

The SUP has also criticised the building’s accessibility, stating it fails to meet modern standards for people with reduced mobility. Additionally, it warns that staffing pressures can leave individual officers handling multiple roles simultaneously, increasing risks for both police and the public.

Maintenance delays have further compounded the situation, with reported faults remaining unresolved for extended periods due to administrative and budgetary constraints.

Call for urgent action

The union argues that the situation reflects years of institutional neglect and insists that urgent measures must be introduced while any long-term refurbishment is carried out.

It concludes that public safety in a major tourist destination like Benidorm “cannot depend on obsolete facilities” and is urging authorities to prioritise investment in modern policing infrastructure.