Arrecife has become a pioneering city in Spain in developing a specialized unit of the Local Police to prevent violence in sports. According to the council this Wednesday, since the first weeks of this year it has deployed agents from the Prevention, Mediation and Coexistence Unit (UPMEC) for this purpose.
During the presentation of this unit, the mayor of Arrecife, Yonathan de León (Popular Party), was alongside Sports councilor, Eli Merino (PP), and the chief sub-commissioner of the Arrecife Local Police, José Antonio Tabares.
The City Council approved last autumn the protocol to prevent violence in sports. For its monitoring, the council gave the green light to the creation of this unit, which has already been deployed in several sports encounters held in the capital of Lanzarote
A unit with ten agents in different disciplines
For this monitoring, the council has assigned a dozen agents, who act in plain clothes in the municipal sports facilities of the capital of Lanzarote where the different competitions take place.
The chief sub-commissioner, José Antonio Tabares, has reported that the agents will be in all sports disciplines that "require police presence". Arrecife has indicated that most will be deployed in most football matches, but also in other modalities.
The chief deputy commissioner of the Local Police has explained that all these police officers "have specialized training to act in the prevention of violence, and in mediation in conflict resolution".
For his part, Mayor Yonathan de León has highlighted that the creation of this unit is covered by Organic Law 8/2021, of June 4, on comprehensive protection of children and adolescents against violence. And precisely in the development of its article 40, where the specialized units are cited.
The mayor has pointed out that prevention regarding violence in minors "is essential" and that in Arrecife "we are making important advances for the protection of the youngest, both in educational environments and in sports or leisure facilities". "This new Local Police Unit applies a pioneering protocol for the prevention of child and youth violence in the sports, recreational, leisure, and free time sphere in the municipality of Arrecife," de León Machín has highlighted.
The sports clubs of Arrecife will receive training
The Sports Councilor, Eli Merino, has detailed in the presentation that "the sports clubs of the municipality already know this protocol, and will receive direct training from the police agents who integrate it for better coordination." Thus, during these past days representatives of the sports clubs, monitors and coaches, have held meetings with agents of this unit so that they become familiar with its application, coordination and effectiveness.
Furthermore, Eli Merino has highlighted that "Arrecife's sports facilities are incorporating advanced systems for the protection of minors in changing rooms and showers areas, among other tools to preserve the minor and prevent them from receiving harassment."
