The Barcelona City Council is installing nearly 100 new CCTV cameras in high-traffic areas by the end of the year to enhance public safety and support police investigations. The move forms part of an ongoing city-wide surveillance expansion plan.
Albert Batlle, deputy mayor for Prevention and Security, confirmed the rollout of 99 new devices across five locations: nine on Passeig del Born, 11 at the Carmel bunkers, 30 at the Olympic Ring (Anella Olímpica), 30 at the Bellcaire and Fort Pienc market, and 19 in Pegaso Park. These additions are part of phases two and three of the city's surveillance strategy.
The installation at Pegaso Park follows a fatal shooting of a teenager in early July, linked by investigators to a suspected gang conflict. However, Batlle stressed that plans to install cameras there were already in motion before the incident occurred.
“No és una vigilància massiva, és un model selectiu,” ha apuntat el tinent d’alcaldia de seguretat, Albert Batlle.
The city currently operates 186 active surveillance cameras. This includes 14 in Plaça de Catalunya and 12 along the Maritime Front, both installed in the first phase of the plan. Work is already underway to add nine more on Avinguda de la Catedral and 20 in Plaça Reial.
The council has also received a favourable report from the Catalan Commission for Surveillance Device Control for additional installations in Nou Barris, including the Guineueta Park, Plaça d'Àngel Pestaña and Plaça Roja, as well as Plaça Universitat in Eixample. These are pending final approval from the Department of Interior's Directorate General for Security Administration.
By 2027, the city aims to have 660 operational cameras, covering approximately 5.16% of public space across all districts. The system does not use facial recognition or artificial intelligence-based identification technologies.
Image storage and access are governed by current data protection and police surveillance regulations, including Decree 134/1999 of 18 May from the Generalitat de Catalunya, and require specific authorisation from the regional government.
The cameras are intended to act as both a preventive and investigative tool, supporting police presence by deterring crime and aiding in evidence collection after serious incidents.
Primary sources: Barcelona City Council, portaljuridic.gencat.cat. Reported by beteve.cat, larazon.es, Betevé, Judit Bertran, Regió 7, Yolanda Bernal, Sergi Tor, APDCAT, El Periódico (CA).
