The Area of Security, Prevention and Coexistence leads the city of Barcelona's public security and prevention policies. It is made up of three large areas of action: the Guàrdia Urbana [city] police force, the Fire Brigade and the Prevention Services Department.

The Prevention Services Department has the mission of planning strategies and proposing programmes and interventions to achieve a safer, more inclusive, equitable and cohesive city.

It does this by studying and evaluating each neighbourhood's particular features and conflicts, fostering community participation in the definition of security policies.

More specifically, it is responsible for:

1. Coordinating projects and interventions to respond to the needs of peaceful coexistence at city, district and neighbourhood levels.
2. Managing resources in regard to conflict mediation and prevention.
3. Providing technical support to Barcelona's security bodies: the Local Security Board and the Barcelona Security and Prevention Council.
4. Coordinating and monitoring the Prevention and Security Plan.