Fuengirola Local Police, firefighters protest in Los Boliches [Video]

Members of the local police force and firefighters were out in force in front of the church in Los Boliches, Fuengirola on Tuesday evening protesting against their treatment by the local municipality.

They have received no increase in salary for eight years, despite the fact that Fuengirola Despierta exposed the overly large salaries of the mayoress and other councillors back in 2011. In fact, at some stage their salaries were even cut.

Now working under a new PP mayoress, Ana Mula, they have had enough and are saying that she has not fulfilled agreements made relating to their salaries and other benefits.

Spanish News in English was there when they protested on two occasions back in February 2013 and was fortunate enough to be there again this evening.  As at 8:14 pm this evening, the drumming, whistling and sirens continue.

 

Emergency response overkill on the Costa del Sol, Spain

You know things are quiet when this kind of thing happens. Roughly 25 emergency vehicles responded to one little crime this afternoon, at high speed, with sirens blaring.

There I was, crossing the road at a pedestrian crossing, minding my own business, when bee-bah-bee-bah, I nearly get wiped out by a police tow truck. I scrambled to the pavement safely, wondering what kind of emergency tow could possibly be required that needs sirens and such high speed?

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Police in Valencia use "go-go" dancers to protest lack of equipment

Police in the city of Valencia are fed up with a shortage of both vehicles and equipment.  They say their pistols are 30 years old, bullet-proof vests are out of date and also safety equipment for motorbike police is seriously lacking.  There is also a lack of new uniforms.

They decided to bring attention to their bad working conditions by launching a protest.  200 Local Police officers protested outside the town hall in Valencia together with several "go-go" dancers wearing underwear and union t-shirts.  According to El Mundo, one officer even turned up at the protest in a pair of bright blue long johns.

While equipment has been lacking for some time, things came to a crux after an accident, in which four officers received light injuries when the 17-year-old van they were using suffered brake problems.  Valencia's town hall, however, blamed the driver of the van for the accident and 20 Minutos reported they said the local police force had "everything it needs to carry out its duty."