Operational reconciliation between Mossos d'Esquadra and National Police took shape on a television stage, literally. Specifically, in the series 'Merlí'. Dozens of agents from both bodies stormed on April 4 at the abandoned institute, in the Vall d'Hebrón neighborhood, which served as a set for the product for teenagers of TV3 and international success. In two batches, 30 men were arrested, accused of at least 75 robberies in flats in Barcelona and who had turned the building into their refuge. «That operation went perfectly and, from there, everything began to work in a chain», reminds this newspaper a police command in Catalonia.

Two years after the 'procés' caused a historical gap between bodies, the joint work is executed normally again. At least, the one that can be granted to a relationship that ended abruptly. "Those of us in the operations were crazy about doing joint things," recalls a command involved in the coordination between bodies. The phase of insecurity that Barcelona is going through has been the perfect testing ground to show that new stage. Since April both bodies have acted jointly against robberies and attacks in the Port Olímpic, against narcotics in the Raval neighborhood and in La Mina and, this week, against the subway pickpockets.

Nothing allowed to predict the current calm. After the 1-O referendum, agents and commanders considered it impossible to redirect the situation. The police charges ordered by the Government on the day of the illegal vote and the accusations against the Mossos to collaborate on a day prohibited by the Supreme Court (TS), including the imputation of Major Josep Lluís Trapero, were the most visible scars. The operational teams, responsible for street work and investigations, however, were also victims of the war between governments. "All this has done us a lot of damage and we'll see if we get out of it," said a Mossos commissioner.

The situation has stabilized. A panorama that has been reached thanks to several elements and not a few efforts on both sides. On all the reasons, two stand out in which sources from both bodies coincide: the definitive inclusion of the Mossos d'Esquadra in the Center for Intelligence against Terrorism and Organized Crime (CITCO) , the database where they are collected and crossed All police investigations. And, above all, the changes made to the domes.

None of the police officers who occupied the cusps in October 2017 do so today. As the sources consulted agree, "the mood" of the current bosses -Eduard Sallent, by Mossos; and José Antonio Togores, as Chief of Police - given the collaboration and without the resentment left by the days of the 'procés', has helped turn a poisoned relationship.

The chief commissioner, Eduard Sallent, in an act last June.JORDI SOTERAS

The unexpected appointment in June of Sallent as chief commissar of the Mossos was received with suspicion from all sectors, except the sovereignist. His fulminant ascent from intendant to the maximum rank was criticized, also, by commissioners of the Mossos. It was interpreted as the result of the politicization of the body by Quim Torra. A reading that Sallent has been responsible for proving wrong. His predecessor, Miquel Esquius, began the pacification with the rest of the bodies and Sallent wants to finish it.

Since taking office, he has turned to rebuild bridges with all levels. He made it evident in the most important protocol act for the Catalan police, the Day of the Esquadres. He called "concord and distension" before representatives of the judiciary but, even more importantly, before commanders of the Civil Guard and the Police who returned to official acts. Sallent has just shaken off suspicions of political vassalage this summer. Shortly after the Government gave papal to the conspiracy theories about the attacks of 17-A, he disallowed them. He considered the relations and the role of the CNI in the investigation to be "very correct" and settled any groundless debate.

In the Police the same script has been lived. The acting Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, replaced the previous Chief in Catalonia, Sebastián Trapote, four months after arriving in the Government in 2018. A change for retirement whose effects have been noted over time, according to National Police sources confirm. Togores has regained the fluid relationship with the Mossos and abandoned the ways of the old dome, "little given to collaborate."

The presence of the Mossos since the end of 2018 at CITCO, after years of claiming it, has also exerted fuel. The 'Suricat operation' that allowed the Pakistani network to control 'narcopisos' to be dismantled in June and drug retailing in the Raval was born in the joint database. Researchers from both bodies realized that they were pursuing the same objectives and decided to join forces. The result filled everyone involved. Since then the 'narcopisos' are considered neutralized.

Operational agents of both bodies expect the collaboration to continue, regardless of the political clashes that may come. One of them summarizes the key to the new idyll: "We are police and we understand each other."

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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