Santurtzi is currently experiencing the final days of its San Jorge festivals, celebrations that have been overshadowed by a serious incident. In response, police unions criticized the security arrangements as «insufficient», and now ErNE, the leading union for the municipal police, has demanded that the City Council bolster police presence for the remainder of the festivities.
“"Although zero risk does not exist in these types of crowded events, we consider it essential to design serious, planned, and coordinated police operations, with a clear focus on prevention."
The union states that the security plan should, at a minimum, include coordination between the Local Police and the Ertzaintza, the presence of commanders in the txosna area, and a sufficient deployment of officers, both in uniform and plainclothes. Furthermore, they advocate for implementing preventive controls at train and metro stations to detect bladed weapons and alcohol consumption among minors.
They also call for enhanced medical assistance with «permanent presence of resources, including an ambulance in the festive environment, as well as the creation of coordination tables on days of higher attendance to facilitate real-time decision-making».
The City Council, which denied that the security deployment was insufficient last Friday – the day of the regrettable incident – has indicated that for this weekend «the number of officers will again be above minimum services and relevant controls will be carried out in crowded areas and public transport in conjunction with the Ertzaintza».
