Security in 23-J programs: Cybercrime more than squatting at home

On the day the election campaign began, a confidant of Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska told La Vanguardia that “security is not an election issue today.” The proof of this is that it will not even be discussed in the debate between Pedro Sanchez and Alberto Núñez Figo. And he predicted that if there was any hint, it would be accidental. So it was. During the confrontation between the socialist leader and the popular leader, Figo was the only reference to a security problem in the country to ensure that since Sánchez became president, “the occupation of homes increased”. Unsecured data Since the crime statistical system compiled that house occupations began to increase in 2016, when Rajoy was president.

During the last legislature, the opposition unions and the police majority – which feel overwhelming support from the right and far right – tried to bring into the political debate the alleged problem of insecurity plaguing the country due to rising crime. However, the numbers refute these claims.

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PSOE and PP promise to evict squatters within a maximum of 48 and 24 hours, respectively.

The total number of registered crimes in 2002 amounts to a total of 2,325,254. 83.9% of it corresponded to the traditional crime category, representing a decrease of 1.6% compared to 2019, the statistical reference year used, as it was not affected by restrictions due to the pandemic.

More data. Last year, Spain estimated its crime rate at 48.8 known crimes per thousand inhabitants. In the UK this rate rises to 79.5. in Germany up to 60.7. and in Denmark or Belgium, with an average of 53.9 and 74.8, respectively.

And the number that already carries all the alarms in the Ministry of the Interior, despite the fact that it does not infiltrate political rallies – and in a very superficial way in electoral platforms -: cybercrime has increased by 72% compared to 2019 .

The Popular Party includes in the electoral roadmap a promise to implement a security plan against cybercrime “by personal means, legislative reforms, investment in technology, specialization, and training and awareness campaigns. The truth is that there is already a strategic plan to strengthen the fight against cybercrime, approved by the Ministry of Interior two years ago due to the escalation of this phenomenon .

The Socialists stick to developing the plan with more specialized agents for crimes that are harder to prosecute—computer frauds, attacks on databases, theft of intimate information or commercial fraud—and they have a very low clarification rate. On the Sumar and Vox programs, this problem is not even hinted at.

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48.8 is the number of criminal offenses per thousand inhabitants of Spain; In the UK it is 79.5 and in Germany it is 60.7

What was mentioned – at every Vox rally – is the phenomenon of illegal occupation. Also, for his part, it was the candidate of the Popular Party who raised this issue in the debate. The far-right promises “zero tolerance” for illegal occupation by reforming the penal code and criminal and civil procedure codes. The scope of this reform is not detailed in its programme.

Popular people make more concrete suggestions that are reflected in their electoral document. On the one hand, they propose approving a package of “anti-squatter” measures to allow evictions to be carried out within a maximum of 24 hours, to make illegally occupied homes not be subject to the tax burden, or to prevent registration of squatters. . In addition, they confirmed from the Public Prosecution that new units will be established in the state security forces and forces specialized in combating illegal occupation, as well as “immediate action units” with “clear and effective protocols” that they do not develop. .

Trying “not to give more ground to the right in this matter in which they took science”, according to socialist sources, the Socialist Socialist Party is also involved in this problem. On their program they admit that the illegal occupation of homes is “a dangerous reality and must be fought against, especially the work of the Mafia”. The Socialists promise to promote legislative reform to ensure that squatters are evicted within a maximum of 48 hours. 24 hours more than the popular suggestion. “For the government of Spain it was a priority,” the PSOE document states.

The crime statistical system shows that the number of criminal offenses related to the occupation of real estate in the first quarter of 2023 was 3898. In the same period in 2021, this number reached 4634. And in 2022 at 4385. The beginning of this year was reduced by 11%

The position of the two parties

in it PSOE Prioritizing the expansion of the Civil Guard’s specializations so that cyber security or combating gender violence are not “exclusive services for urban areas”.

he People’s party He calls for updating the counter-terrorism charter and revising the national strategic plan to combat violent extremism to “adapt it to new threats”.

from Fox They are committed to military deployment on the borders of Ceuta, Melilla and the Canary Islands “to ensure protection from invasions promoted by neighboring countries.”

summer He proposes the creation of a parliamentary commission to reopen the debate on the Spanish police model, as well as a “complete regulation of the use of the police force”.

ERC He again included in his program the abolition of the muzzle law. Or, at least, that this PP rule does not apply in areas to which security powers have been transferred.

from together And they demand from Mossos d’Esquadra “full access” to international police databases, which would make them full participants in all international organizations.