The Mossos d'Esquadra are strengthening coordination with local authorities to improve administrative oversight of commercial establishments in Vic, Osona. The move focuses on ensuring compliance with safety, health and municipal regulations through joint inspections led by the Unitats Regionals de Policia Administrativa (URPA), the regional arm of Catalonia’s autonomous police force.
URPA units are responsible for inspecting illicit administrative activities across designated geographic areas. Their core duties include monitoring private security services, overseeing venues required to implement safety measures, and regulating entertainment and gambling premises. In Vic, this means closer collaboration between Mossos, local police and municipal bodies to enforce standards in nightlife and commercial zones.
Inspections target nightlife and safety compliance
Under this coordinated approach, URPA officers conduct administrative checks on surveillance operations in industrial estates and residential complexes, and verify that businesses meet legal safety requirements. They also produce technical reports for authorising private security services and supervise the work of local police in administrative matters.
In the entertainment sector, URPA teams standardise inspection criteria for events and venues, carry out on-site audits, and act as liaison with regulatory agencies. This includes direct engagement with business associations in both gaming and hospitality industries to ensure consistent enforcement.
The administrative check is the first link in public safety,” said a Mossos official involved in the coordination effort, noting that unchecked venues can become hubs for minor crime or drug activity.
Focus on closing sanction gaps
A key aim of the initiative is to address delays in issuing penalties. Past shortcomings in sanction enforcement have led to perceptions of impunity among some nightclub operators, despite repeated inspections. While Mossos conduct checks, municipal councils hold sanctioning authority in larger towns like Vic.
This gap prompted the creation of inter-agency working groups modelled on a pilot scheme launched in Granollers, where URPA of the Metropolitan North region coordinates actions between regional and local police and city departments. The goal is faster follow-up on violations and stronger deterrence.
Similar efforts have been reported in Barcelona, where rising late-night venue activity has led URPA teams to accelerate inspection schedules. “The tardeo trend is here to stay, now nearly all city nightclubs operate under it,” said Sergeant Eulalio Pizarro, deputy head of Barcelona’s URPA unit, highlighting increased operational demands.
Primary sources: mossos.gencat.cat, govern.cat, ${rpb.dspace.name}, boe.es, interior.gencat.cat. Reported by el9nou.cat, Rubén Vizcaíno Pena, Guillem RS, Germán González, SME.
