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Safety in Barcelona: Why does the Catalan Capital have a Bad Reputation?



Author: Ondrej Kriz

Publication date: 03.09.2024


The city of Barcelona, adorning the golden coast of Catalonia and alluring millions of visitors every year, is doubtlessly one of the most attractive city destinations on the planet. According to Resonance, an organization examining Place Performance around the globe, Barcelona ranked 8th in the list of the Best Cities in The World 2024, concerning key factors like Livebility, Lovebility, and Prosperity. With its stunning cathedrals, cozy lanes, breathtaking viewpoints, and golden beaches, Barcelona earned its position as a Spanish cultural and economic hotspot. Yet, in the streets of the Catalan capital, crime activity is rampant like never before, making it the most dangerous city in the country and tarnishing its name. From pickpocketing and robbery to sexual assaults and cybercrimes, a wide range of delinquencies seems to be as diverse as Barcelona's famous landmarks.



What is the Cause?


Several factors contribute to criminality in particular neighborhoods of an otherwise relatively safe city. According to Worldmetrics.org., with its crime index of 41,72 per 1,000 people, Barcelona is considered a Moderate Crime City. The level of safety, however, varies dramatically in component neighborhoods of the Catalan Capital. According to the Sector Alarm website, most police reports are filed in Sant Martí, followed by Eixample and Raval. Approximately 49,2% of all crimes committed in these quarters and the rest of the city are thefts, with 72% occurring in public spaces (usually frequent tourist areas) and 22% on public transport. In an article published on his LinkedIn profile, Héctor Muñoz claims that crime is prone to happen in regions inhabited by marginalized communities, mostly of an international background, or people with either insufficient or no income. This is caused by the lack of work and study opportunities that would lift these neighborhoods and enable their residents to integrate into society. Time Out magazine reported that the highest concentration of foreign populations is in the Gothic Quarter (66%) and previously mentioned Raval (51%). According to Barcelona's city council, the Catalan Capital is home to people from over 177 countries, constituting roughly 23,6% of the total population, with the largest foreign group coming from Italy, Columbia, Pakistan, and China.  



Mass tourism also contributes to the rising crime rates as the popular tourist hotspots lure not only travelers but also pickpockets and thieves. El Español reported on the presence of organized thief groups, some of which are foreign men coming from unstable countries who send money from illegally obtained objects back home to their families.


But perhaps the biggest instigator of criminal activity in Barcelona, and the rest of the nation, is the illicit drugs market. The location of the country enables the traffickers predominantly from South America and North Africa to smuggle drugs into Spain through major ports across the south coast, including the Port of Barcelona. The distribution epicenters are located in Catalonia, Sevilla, and Galicia, according to the computer graphics published by Prosegur Research. In late 2023, the crime rate related to drug consumption and smuggling in Barcelona increased by 7,3% with 1711 reported offenses, as written by the newspaper El Mundo.



Crime Statistics:


Sector Alarm's website published an extensive article about the crime statistics in Barcelona. The most visited city in Spain registers one in three burglaries and transpassing cases nationwide, making Catalonia the region with the highest crime rate in the country. In early 2023, the number of illegal activities increased by 13,7% compared to the previous year, with 49,2% being theft cases. The vast majority of these are committed without the use of violence, however, there was a 9,11% rise in the violent forms of theft and robbery in the same period of 2023. As of 2024, Barcelona registers a higher number of criminal offenses than any other city in Spain, followed by Sevilla and Valencia, according to Epdata.


Safety Tips:


Despite all the previously mentioned data and overall poor reputation within Spain, Barcelona is still, for its size and economic significance, one of the safest metropolises in the world. According to a Barcelona Local Experiences article from May 2024, only 2% of the city's visitors fall victim to the crime during their stay. The worsening crime situation will gradually get back under control due to a massive deployment of police forces in the streets and extensive CCTV systems operating around the city.


However, every visitor and local resident should move around the streets with precaution to prevent being part of the 2%. In general, unaccompanied people should avoid previously mentioned city areas late at night or in the early morning hours, especially women. Everybody should keep their valuables in zipped-up pockets or handbags, and be overall aware of their surroundings, including the people in their vicinity.


In the case of a crisis, dial 112 for medical, rescue, fire-extinguishing civil defense, or police protection emergencies. This hotline works 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, and is toll-free. (Extracted from Barcelona International Welcome website).


 

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