The Mossos d'Esquadra are providing ongoing police protection to 19 victims of gender and domestic violence in the Ponent Regional Police Area, which covers the Lleida plain. The group includes 18 women and one man, four of whom are assessed as being at very high risk, according to Maribel Zaidín, head of the Regional Victim Support Unit for Ponent.

This protection includes home and workplace surveillance, regular check-ins, enforcement of restraining orders, and preventive interventions when risks arise. Victims have direct telephone access to officers for advice or emergencies, said Zaidín.

“These victims have a direct phone line to us and can call for any advice or information. We assess the risk and act,”

As of 31 July, victim support units in Ponent were managing 1,935 active case files related to gender and domestic violence. Of these, 1,488 involve individuals with active judicial protection orders. The number of such orders is rising, Zaidín confirmed.

Summer Increase in Reported Cases

  • 173 reports of gender-based violence in June and July 2025 (down three from the same period in 2024)
  • 68 reports of domestic violence (up 23% from 55 in 2024)
  • 241 total complaints recorded over the two months

Zaidín noted that family cohabitation during summer months may increase conflict situations, though reported incidents remain stable overall. A full assessment will follow once August data is available.

Other Crimes Against Women

No cases of forced marriage or female genital mutilation have been reported in Ponent so far in 2025. However, in 2024, a 26-year-old man reported being forced into marriage in Guinea, prompting Mossos intervention over fears for his younger sisters. In late 2025, three people were arrested in Mollerussa for attempting to purchase a 15-year-old girl for €5,000 to force her into marriage; the teenager was found begging in Les Borges Blanques while her parents were in Navarre.

In early 2024, two young men from Segrià reported having undergone female genital mutilation as minors in Gambia. “There is still a large hidden figure, as reporting remains difficult,” Zaidín said.

In 2025, Mossos recorded 1,143 reports of partner violence and 243 family violence cases in Ponent and Alt Pirineu-Aran.

For immediate help, victims can contact the Mossos d'Esquadra personalised support and reporting service or call emergency services on 112.

Primary sources: mossos.gencat.cat, interior.gencat.cat, govern.cat. Reported by rtve.es, Redacció SER, ara.cat, regio7.cat, CME, diaridegirona.cat, Segre.