In first, Formentera Local Police roll out speed traps and drug stings

policia-local-formentera-20201Formentera law enforcement unveiled a review of the force’s efforts in 2019 today, with interior councillor Josep Marí highlighting efforts to ramp up policing of itinerant vending, traffic violations and safety hasards in urban settings—an area that falls within the jurisdiction of the island’s local government.

For the first time in history, and certainly in 2019, local police pulled over motorists who sped on urban arterials—145 were given infractions. In another first, police administered roadside sobriety tests and 21 drivers tested positive. Also this summer, the force reported 257 cases of illegal vending—that’s 142 more than in 2018, when the total was 115.

Accidents and arrests
Officers intervened in 33 accidents—14 that had occurred on town roads and 19 on intertown roads. In the process, 13 individuals were detained and turned over to the Guárdia Civil.

Infractions of municipal ordinances
Twelve individuals were cited for violating the island’s rule against camping, 8 were written up for aggressive advertising on the public thoroughfare, 4 for allowing pets to go without a lead and 5 for failing to respect restrictions on building. Forty individuals were reported for violating the public safety law (llei de seguretat ciutadana) by carrying drugs, and another two for resisting. As far as itinerant vending is concerned, 23 citations were written for possession of a weapon (knives for cutting fruit) and another 8 went out for infractions of safeguards to protect areas of dune regeneration.

Lost objects and canine unit
Of 295 objects that were found, 133 —nearly half— were returned to their owners. The canine unit took part in 34 anti-drug measures in public areas like squares and parks.

Police liaison
Formentera’s police liaison intervened 82 times in 2019—14 of the cases involved bullying or cyberbullying, 2 involved vandalism, 16 underage consumption of alcohol or drugs near a schol, 16 family conflicts, 11 truancy. Likewise, young people attended 21 school talks about emerging technologies, bullying and drugs, while parents were invited to 3 such talks.

5 February 2020
Department of Communication
Consell de Formentera