The last meeting of the Local Security Council, held in October, concluded that “Lucena is a safe city”. Then the mayor, Aurelio Fernández, highlighted that “statistics show that our city continues on a downward line in terms of delinquency, decreasing by almost 3.8% during the first half of the year.”
Although in 2022 and 2023 the number of nightlife-related fights and crimes was more frequent than those occurring this year, the events occurring in 2024 were particularly alarming: two mass brawls in August in the heart of the Center (one of them resulted in a serious injury due to a cut to the neck), or the alleged sexual assault of a minor near the area bottles earlier this month, for which there are two men in prison awaiting trial. Added to this is the almost 40% increase in violent theft crimes in homes, establishments and other facilities, some of them involving large financial sums and involving violence.
He nightlife in Lucena underwent a significant change after the end of Covid. Until 2020, this city benefited from heavy traffic on its streets on weekend evenings. The subsequent closure of several establishments added to the concentration of continuous altercations Since March 2022, which brought detainees and those injured from fights, they have significantly reduced the number of locals and visitors who choose Lucena for their nightlife.
Cameras on Ballesteros Street
Precisely in March 2022, following a massive fight, the association was born Dignified coexistence Lucena whose representative, Javier Ortiz, reminded ABC yesterday that the group “was formed at a time when there were more altercations and a lawsuit was filed.” increased police presencesomething that came true. However, he indicated that although the atmosphere is “a little calmer,” we cannot let our guard down because any day is a good day for something bad to happen.”
Ortiz insisted that it is “well known that the most controversial outbreak is located in the premises located at Juan Valera Street», located in the center and the only one in the city to have a nightclub license and therefore with longer opening hours. “We understand that it should not be open to the public due to terms “This is the case and we have made this known to the municipal council,” he asked.
From the Town Hall, the councilor for citizen security, Ángel Novillo, recalled that this premises, following an inspection by town planning and the local police, was “temporarily closed for a few days”. technical deficiencies at the end of last year. The owners resolved them and it was reopened before the Christmas holidays thanks to the green light from the town planning technicians.
“We try to offer more control in this areaespecially during the period in which the aforementioned establishment remains open and the rest of the surrounding establishments are already closed”, emphasized Novillo. From the Department of Citizen Security, they claim to have done everything in their power: “A greater presence in the hot spots [zona Centro y la del botellón aneja a la Plaza de Toros], inspections town planning in establishments, control of alcohol and drugs in the surroundings of leisure establishments and a greater presence of plainclothes patrols for a few weeks to support the National Police, who are really competent in matters of citizen security .
No more local police
Likewise, the Municipal Council recalled the project to install surveillance cameras which, in addition to allowing better traffic control, “will serve as support for citizen security”. They insisted that “we must not forget the latest offer of public employment called which will expand the local police by six people, thus completing a total of 78 and strengthen the leadership of the organization through opposition to internal promotion.
“By having more personnel in command posts, we intend to be able to diversify functions to strengthen certain areas such as traffic, gender-based violence, the guard agent, mediation or the green patrol”, indicated this councilor.
In the neighborhood group, they recognize “progress” and remind us that “we are not against nightlife but always respect the regulations in forcein terms of permits and noise, and avoiding as much as possible altercations that have caused various situations of serious insecurity”, which happens whenever there is “no police presence”. “Of course , there are premises, and the City Council knows which ones, that must be eliminated, eradicating this problem would eliminate everything else,” they stressed.
“There are premises, and the Town Hall knows which ones, that must be eliminated. Eradicating this problem would eliminate everything else. »
Javier Ortiz
Dignified coexistence Lucena
In this sense, Ortiz said that “it is not news that in certain areas there is drug trafficking. These are groups that have been identified and that maintain an internal war to maintain commerce in Lucena”, which is why he once again urged the authorities to “increase the registration of establishments”.
Regarding the actions of the National Police, both the neighborhood group and the citizen security delegation have repeatedly urged the central government to complete the model current Lucena-Cabra police station, whose staff is 146 out of a portfolio of 156.
The general secretary of SUP Córdoba, Antonio Sánchez, warned that “we demand the updating and setting up the catalog [de puestos de trabajo] because, currently, the sixth team is provisional. As long as this catalog is not modified, there will always be a deficit. ABC Córdoba tried to contact the higher command of the Lucena-Cabra National Police Station, but they refused to make statements without the corresponding authorization.
