Criminal acts in Reus (Tarragona) have increased by 9.1% in 2023 compared to 2022, in line with the increase in Catalonia as a whole, although below the Catalan average. It is one of the main data of the Security Board held this Wednesday.
Crimes against property are the most numerous and have grown the most, 12.2%. Of these, almost 25% have been scams, especially done online.
Police officials also highlight that the resolution of criminal acts grew by 0.9% and that arrests increased by 6.6%. Likewise, sanctioning files for drug possession and consumption rose by up to 29%, but, on the other hand, they decreased by 58.5% for alcohol consumption in public.
The average crime rate per 1,000 inhabitants in the city is 63.5 while the Catalan average is 69.5, according to data provided by the Reus town council.
The Councilor for Citizen Security and Coexistence, Dolors Vázquez, has highlighted that the figures demonstrate the increase in police activity and effectiveness, since the resolution of criminal acts has increased by 0.9%, while arrests increased by 6.6%, the result, he maintains, of the greater pressure and coordination between the security forces.
Regarding crimes against property, which have grown by 12.2% compared to 2022, they are the most numerous. Of these, thefts represent 26.1% of the total and frauds 24.8%.
In fact, police officials indicated that Internet scams are especially growing. "Of the 9% of overall criminal acts, scams account for more than 50%, the rest are minor typologies; this is a dynamic that is not unique to the city, but has changed the way citizens live. , to trade and relate and, that leads to the increase of this crime," underlined the chief inspector of the Baix Camp Basic Area of the Mossos d'Esquadra, Xavier Hervàs.
For their part, robberies with force have increased by 1.8% compared to 2022. The most frequent are robberies inside vehicles, which have increased by 6.2%, while in establishments they have increased by 8%. ,2%.
On the other hand, home robberies have decreased by 6.4%. Crimes against people also decreased, with 7.1%, and crimes against road safety, which fell by 9.6%.
In the case of crimes against public health, 48 police operations have been carried out, the same as two years ago. "This does not mean that there have not been more actions, since some end with administrative files, that is, substance interventions, of which we would speak of hundreds of thousands," added Hervàs.
In parallel, the councilor for Citizen Security and Coexistence has highlighted that the sanctioning files for incivility increased slightly, by 3.28% (106) in 2023 compared to the previous year.
Vázquez has also highlighted the 29 percent increase in crimes due to drug possession or consumption, as well as those related to neighborhood noise and disturbances, which have grown by 171.21 percent. In the case of files related to dogs, these increased by 95.68%.
The councilor has attributed these figures to the greater police presence and citizen involvement. "We can give some good information, alcohol consumption on public roads has dropped by 58.5%, as a result of the police presence and the collaboration between the Mossos and the Urban Police in the controls carried out around nightlife, we want leisure quality nightlife in our city," he said.
For her part, the mayor of Reus, Sandra Guaita, has highlighted the proximity police work carried out by the Urban Guard agents. Specifically, she highlighted that 6,120 proximity patrols have been carried out, 1,057 more than in 2022, and that the specific proximity unit has carried out 2,518 services, 943 more than the previous year. Furthermore, regarding the Mobile Proximity Police Station, she has said that she has carried out 1,317 services, 687 more than two years ago. The mayor has also celebrated the collaboration between security forces and bodies.
