Already commonplace on the streets of all major towns and cities in the UK, Close Circuit Television  cameras are to be installed in parts of the Rincon de Loix area of Benidorm.
Following an attack on a local Spanish shopkeeper, who went to the assistance of an elderly British couple who were being mugged, he ended up being beaten by the two East European assailants himself. There has been a backlash in the Spanish media over the lack of security in the area - something that has been an issue within the British community for some time now and at last action is being taken!

Yesterdays press conference

At a press conference yesterday, attended by the Mayor of Benidorm Agustin Navarro Deputy Gema Amor, Head of Security Jose Marcet along with Police commanders and the heads of the Hoteliers and retail Associations - they presented a united front on the issue of security. The Mayor stressed that overall Benidorm is one of the safest Spanish tourist destinations and of the 15 million overnight stays there were only 9000 reported "violations". I would say that the vast majority are for "petty crime" - mugging in most instances is too severe a word as it implies violence. I am certainly not trying to trivialise bag snatching or pick pocketing by any means - it can be an extremely traumatising experience for those targeted, but in many instances you are not even aware that you have been a victim until later.


As a percentage, there are very few "serious crimes" such as murder, kidnapping and sexual assault reported, and especially in comparison to other cities.
However, the Mayor has taken on board the concerns voiced and announced that 360 degree surveillance cameras will be placed in the busy high volume areas of the Rincon - namely the Avd Mediterraneo, Calle Gerona and Avd Filipinas - the road that leads down from the main Avd Mediterraneo to the beginning of the open air Wednesday & Sunday market.

As with any high tourist destinations, opportunists will strike. Pick pockets and scammers are rife in every city throughout the world and you just need to be vigilant and use your common sense, the same as you would back in your own home town. Visitors tend to be more relaxed when on holiday and this may be where the problems arise... I for one certainly feel safer here than I do back in my home town in the UK - I definitely wouldn´t walk about there on my own at night!

Pea Man at work...

On the subject of scams, please avoid what is known locally as the "pea or potato men". They set up on  busy street corners with a cardboard box and 3 potato halves, hiding a pea under one. They shuffle them about and you "guess" which one has the pea underneath! Surprisingly, one of the "spectators" guesses correct and doubles his wagger.... in the hope of tempting genuine passer-bys. The so called spectators and crowds surrounding the trickster are all part of a gang - the best thing to do is walk on by and ignore them. They are normally out in force on market days and can be spotted from afar by the lookouts, who stand on the street corners and on the road looking out for any approaching police cars and whistle when spotted. They then disperse quicker than a kalashnikov....