President Salvador Illa said on Friday that the Generalitat is negotiating a reform of Spain's Penal Code with the central government that would double prison terms for carrying prohibited weapons, from the current one to three years to two to six years.

For residents, the proposal would mean a substantially higher potential sentence for carrying a weapon classified as prohibited if Parliament approves the reform. The Generalitat also wants a new criminal offence covering the public display of weapons, although no proposed penalty for that offence was specified.

Illa discussed crime and repeat offending with Félix Bolaños, Spain's Minister of the Presidency, Justice and Relations with Parliament, at the Palau de la Generalitat in Barcelona. The pair appeared before the media after the meeting but did not take questions.

"With every day that passes, Catalonia is safer," Illa said, contrasting the government's position with what he called manipulation by the far right.

Government cites falls in several reported offences

According to figures from Spain's Interior Ministry cited by Diari ARA, several high-volume offences fell in Catalonia during the first half of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025:

  • Robbery involving violence or intimidation fell by 3.8%.
  • Residential burglary fell by 9%.
  • Theft fell by 14.6%.
  • Vehicle theft fell by 3%.

The same figures cited by the newspaper recorded increases in some serious offences. Homicides rose by 1.5%, assaults and offences causing injury by 8.4%, and sexual assaults involving penetration by 3.4%.

Penalty proposal remains under negotiation

Bolaños said security was a progressive value. Illa said the proposed weapons changes fitted the government's requirement for respect for peaceful coexistence and public order.

"Security is a progressive value," Bolaños said.

The Penal Code is Spanish state legislation, so the measures would require approval through the national legislative process before they could take effect. Residents should treat the proposed two-to-six-year range and the planned public-display offence as proposals rather than current law.

Reported by ara.cat, Diari ARA.