Montserrat Escudé, the newly appointed head of the Mossos d'Esquadra in Barcelona's Ciutat Vella Basic Police Area, has outlined her clear priorities. Her focus is on ensuring residents feel safe and proud to live in the district, according to an exclusive interview with betevé.
"It is a priority for the force, as it should be, to fight against petty crime, against thefts and robberies with violence and intimidation," Escudé told betevé. She added that this work helps ensure Barcelona remains a safe city. Police are working consciously, generating intelligence, and communicating with the courts more precisely so judicial authorities can take more efficient measures.
Tackling Weapons and Drug Flats
Escudé highlighted the 'Daga plan', which targets illegal weapons. The goal is not only to prevent their use but also their possession. "It has been detected for some years now that there is a common trend of carrying them, because it generates a feeling of security for the person, but it is counterproductive," she explained. To combat this, police will increase controls and expand operations to confiscate weapons.
Addressing the issue of 'narcopisos' (drug flats), Escudé stated that while the amount of drugs seized might not always be judicially significant, it is critical for neighbourhood peace. "Having neighbours with a drug flat in the same building causes a tsunami, and for us, recovering citizen coexistence and ensuring neighbours can live peacefully is as important as, or more important than, acquiring large quantities of narcotic substances," she said.
Focusing on Prevention and Vulnerable Residents
Prevention is a key strategy for the new chief. Escudé drew a parallel with homelessness, noting that people often do not report crimes when their basic daily needs are not met. "Therefore, the big challenge in Ciutat Vella is to do a lot of prevention, very strong prevention, with the aim of reducing the hidden figure of gender violence cases," she explained.
For Escudé, this is a significant challenge because Ciutat Vella is a district with poverty where women and children often do not know their rights. "We must help them report those situations that are violence," she concluded, emphasising the need to support vulnerable residents in coming forward.
