• Regulations: Less height to be a local police in Madrid

The Special Security Brigades of the Community of Madrid (Bescam) are modernized almost three decades after their creation. The Government of Isabel Díaz Ayuso has outlined the main lines of a plan to redesign this body of Local Police that serves 111 municipalities in the region and that will come into operation in 2021 .

Among the novelties, it is worth highlighting that the more than 2,000 agents that make it up will incorporate traffic control functions into their citizen protection functions and that their work will be strengthened in the face of "real problems" , such as bullying, illegal squatting and pathological gambling. In addition, a new financing model will be implemented and they will even change their corporate image and name, although the alternative will not yet be finalized.

"The relaunch of a new comprehensive security police project and the updating of the content of the agreements is the only way to guarantee the survival of the model" , summarizes Enrique López, Minister of Justice, Interior and Victims of the Community of Madrid. "We want to contribute from generosity to the reinforcement of security competences that, being exclusive to the State and the municipalities, are very relevant and sensitive for the improvement of the well-being and tranquility of citizens," he adds.

The plan includes a reinforcement of the figure of the Guardian Agent, focused on bullying prevention both in classrooms and through the internet, and that of the Protective Agent to combat violence against women and vulnerable groups. In addition, it wants to develop the role of the Proximity Agent , who should have as a "priority mission" to carry out actions to prevent the usurpation of houses and in the field of control of economic activities, shows and gaming establishments, including actions and campaigns of disclosure and prevention of addiction.

The Madrid government guarantees that it will allocate an investment of 297.1 million euros over four years , renewable for another four, for the maintenance of this body created in 2004 under the mandate of Esperanza Aguirre. However, the way the money is distributed will change: instead of allocating a fixed amount for each worker in the workforce who is active - which is not entered in the event of sick leave or transfers - the grants will be awarded based on the number of inhabitants of the localities and of the security programs drawn up by the municipalities themselves.

"The intention is that the new model allows 100% of the budget to be executed, which means an effective increase in financing of close to 10% per year, " explained López. Deliveries will continue to make specific collaboration agreements between the Community and local entities.

Frozen game

This aspect is precisely the one that generates the most doubts in the Madrid Federation of Municipalities (FMM), where they warn that the game is frozen and that with the restructuring project “there are municipalities that ostensibly win, but there are others that lose up to three million euros in the grant ». "It is true that some municipalities need a boost in terms of security policies, we will not deny it, but I do not think that the best option to do so is to the detriment of others," argues the president of the organization and also mayor of Arganda. del Rey, Guillermo Hita.

In addition to calling for a greater budgetary "effort", the first socialist mayor also calls for this financing line to be secured " sine die so that a regional government, whatever its sign, cannot arrive, and eliminate it in the future, which it would be a drama. He also requests that the processing of the new Bescam model be expedited - the current one expires this December - so that the end of the year is not reached "without having reached an agreement that is satisfactory to all" and that the consistories look " pressured 'to sign a' bad deal '.

Centralized purchasing

After the coronavirus crisis, the Ministry of Justice, Interior and Victims began a round of contacts last week, first with the FMM, to finish outlining the new Bescam. Another proposal included in the draft is a system of centralized purchasing of material, from vehicles to bulletproof vests , to "improve efficiency in spending."

The municipalities -except for Madrid capital- that want to benefit from this local police model must have at least four officers and one command in service, as well as a minimum ratio of one cash per thousand inhabitants. In the case of city councils in rural areas that have small staff, but which suffer a significant population fluctuation between the winter, summer or weekend months, they may associate with other councils to reinforce their capacities and competences, benefiting from a higher grant amount.

Less height to enter the body and laser guns

In parallel to the renovation of the Bescam, the Community of Madrid is finalizing the regulation that will regulate the work of around 12,000 local police officers in the region. Among the novelties included in the draft of the - advanced by EL MUNDO - is that the minimum height required to be a local agent will be reduced by five centimeters, so they can aspire to join the female bodies with a height of 1.60 and men measuring 1.65.

The new instructions, which are expected to come into force before the end of the year, contemplate for the first time the possibility of using "non-lethal electrical defenses", such as laser pistols. They also establish a common uniform model for all bodies and will introduce as a requirement that they cannot be accessed by those who have been convicted in a final sentence for crimes of a sexual nature.

"The regulation goes in the way of the professional improvement of the agents and that this in turn leads to greater police efficiency and a reduction in crime," explains Carlos Novillo, director of the Madrid 112 Security and Emergency Agency. Likewise, it is intended to provide the different units with the "necessary means" to "achieve a modern, qualified local police, close and sensitive to the needs of citizens", as underlined in the Ministry of Justice and Interior.

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