The City Police and the Mossos d’Esquadra police corps have prepared a joint operation to ensure security, coexistence and civic behaviour during the festivities for La Mercè. After two years conditioned by the pandemic and restrictions, the city’s annual festival is back again to fill the streets with activities for all.
The city’s usual mobility will be disrupted in various streets, particularly in the centre, requiring a special operation to organise and regulate traffic and ensure safety and fluid mobility for vehicles and pedestrians alike. Exceptional parking prohibitions will also apply at some points in the city where activities are scheduled.
Breathalyser and drug-driving checkpoints will also be set up in places where road safety may be at risk, or where high volumes of vehicles may build up.
The two police corps will be seeking to curb conduct which may disrupt coexistence, lead to the degradation of public space or cause inconvenience due to noise outdoors, for instance unauthorised alcohol consumption in public spaces. To this end, the City Police will be stepping up its checks on establishments selling alcohol and working to avoid unauthorised vending, particularly of food and drinks.
In addition, the Civil Protection, Prevention, Fire Extinction and Rescue Service and the City Police will also be activating a drone service this year, complementing operations and helping to boost public safety.
Greater prevention against gender violence and LGBTI-phobia
In an effort to avoid sexist violence and LGBTI-phobia through prevention, the City Police and the Mossos d’Esquadra corps are setting up safe routes between areas used for the festivities and the nearest public transport stops.
These routes come in addition to the permanent routes established by the police in different nightlife areas in the city, enabling users to get to nearby public transport stops: Front Marítim, Poblenou, Paral·lel and Gràcia / Sarrià – Sant Gervasi. The City Police are working towards all nightlife areas in Barcelona having similar safe routes.
Controlled capacity in Plaça Sant Jaume
In a move to maximise guarantees on safety for this year’s festivities sand facilitate mobility for members of the public, Barcelona City Council will be implementing a civil protection operation to limit capacity in Plaça Sant Jaume and avoid situations which may pose a risk due to the density of people in the square.
The operation will limit capacity in the square, controlling access points and facilitating people’s exit from it. The operation will be in place on Saturday and Sunday, as from 12 noon, and is coordinated by the City Police, the Civil Protection, Prevention, Fire Extinction and Rescue Service and the Barcelona Institute for Culture (ICUB).
To achieve this, the streets of Ferran, Jaume I and Bisbe will be the only ones offering access to the square, while Call, Mico, Llibreteria and Paradís will act as the exits. Carrer de Sant Honorat is reserved for services but can also act as an exit route if needed.