He capital city council has announced the security device for the next Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival. Almost 900 police officers, between Local and Nationaldrones that will monitor the areas with the greatest influx and special attention to means of transportation are some of the highlights of the next edition.
The mayor of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, José Manuel Bermúdez, together with the subdelegate of the Government in the province of Tenerife, Javier Plata, presided today over the celebration of the Local Security Board to analyze the entire emergency system, public transport, security, mobility and public services that will ensure that the Santacrucero Carnival continues to maintain the high level of security for which it is recognized and admired. The mayor highlighted that this operation “accumulates a lot of experience, technical and human resources to which we add technological advances such as the use of drones and resources already essential for security such as surveillance video cameras,” he explained.
Analyzing the large numbers of the device, some 1,500 members of the Santa Cruz Local Police, National Police, Civil Guard and General Corps of the Canary Islands Police (CGPC) will be in charge of the Carnival security area. “Logically, we must thank all of them the effort and work they do during the festivities, to which we add greater and better coordination to respond to the challenges and number of mass events that feature in our Carnival,” he explained.
The entire preventive device in health, social and care for other types of non-routine incidents was also analyzed. Almost another 300 people are involved in these tasks, joining the Tenerife Firefighters Consortium; Civil Protection personnel; and the Spanish Red Cross endowment. Within the device, the importance of police and socio-health work with minors was also stressed, under the protection of the Minors’ Prosecutor’s Office; as well as the prevention and care of possible sexual assaults with the operation of the Violet Point at the Carnival Hospital.
For his part, the subdelegate of the Government, Javier Plata, highlighted “the magnitude of this device, whose dimension and importance has already been worked on for years, in addition, with good results in terms of security, what we do each edition is to continue improving “, adapting to the evolution of the party and adding new technological resources.” This subdelegate’s statement was completed with the explanation of the work that the drone units, both of the Civil Guard and the National Police, will do this year. The objective of these devices will be to visualize the situation of the party and enforce the regulations by avoiding irregular or unauthorized drone flights.
Details of the police device
The Local Police will have practically all of its staff, around 300 agents, to cover the multiple functions entrusted to both traffic and citizen security. It will have a special role in each and every one of the parades and carnival events such as the Parade, the Coso, Burial of the Sardine and a novelty of this edition, the celebration of the Inclusive Sardine, on Thursday, February 15, which, in the morning and half a day it will tour Francisco La Roche Avenue ending in a specific festival for the enjoyment of people with disabilities. According to estimates by the Autonomous Organization for Festivals and Recreational Activities (OAFAR), it is estimated that around 2,500 people will participate.
On the big nights of the festival, and distributed in the different booths spread around the ring, between 70 and 80 Local Police officers will serve each dance, also taking into account the necessary reinforcements for the two Day Carnivals. They will also be provided. due to a greater presence of personnel from the Attestation service and support to the Unit Attached to the Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office.
At the closing time of the music, both the Local Police and the National Police will collaborate to allow the cleaning teams to begin carrying out their work at the scheduled times to return the city to its proper appearance after each nighttime celebration.
The National Police will have all the available personnel, about 570 troops, to which will be added a reinforcement of the Police Intervention Unit (UIP) from Madrid; drone equipment; the Canine Unit; the Mobile Brigade and the Underground Unit. The UPR will focus on the protection and security of public transportation, also counting on the support of the Canine Guide Unit of the Capital Police.
The Civil Guard will focus on its powers both in the port area and in traffic matters, announcing once again the implementation of macro traffic controls on the two main highways of the island (TF-1) and (TF-5) both at the entrances and exits of the city. Some 240 members of this body will be in charge of security in the Port and the arrival of passengers from the maritime bridge between Gran Canaria and Tenerife. The Traffic Group will also have around 250 officers to carry out alcohol and narcotic substance detection controls among drivers.
The CGPC will focus its work during the second day of the Day Carnival, providing the necessary troops to support the other security forces on one of the longest and most extensive days of the festival. Their presence on other days of the Carnival is also valued to ensure the correct development of specific activities.
Extraordinary reinforcement of public transport
Another essential piece for the celebration of the Carnival is the commitment to reinforce the entire public transport network made up of the TITSA buses, the tram and the capital’s autotaxis. In fact, all the authorities present at the meeting held today called on citizens “to come and have fun and, when the time comes to pick up, use public transportation,” the mayor said. With the data provided by TITSA, the carnival week will increase up to 267,000 seats on the buses, generating a total of 4,100 trips in that period, which indicates that this edition will add a new record in the number of passengers transported during the festivities. .
For its part, Tranvía de Tenerife noted that one more year it will be available to the entire fleet to generate dual transport devices, which depending on the carnival day, will end their journey in Santa Cruz or in the Plaza de La Paz. or at the stop next to the Guimerá theater. The forecasts contemplate that demand could increase this year by up to 30 percent compared to 2023 data. Although there is currently a strike notice for tram staff, all parties hope to reach an agreement soon and that does not affect the carnival.
Both at the Transport Interchange and in the Plaza de La Paz square, in coordination with the National Police, special measures will be established to guarantee safety and tranquility for all users of the bus and tram. There will also be monitoring of the tram itineraries by the Prevention and Reaction Unit (UPR) of the National Police.
Other emergency resources
Although, for days now, a good part of the device has already been working on the events held at the Tenerife Fairgrounds. When the party starts, four units from the Tenerife Firefighters Consortium will be available distributed throughout the geography of the carnival ring. Also with the installation of what will be the nerve center of security coordination, the well-known Carnival Hospital, the extensive health and psychosocial device that will be in charge of the Spanish Red Cross will be activated, with days in which up to 13 ambulances will be available to the work in each of the carnival dances.
This city of emergencies that the Carnival Hospital becomes will house many other services, such as the so-called Violet Point; or offices for the care of minors; care tents; medical post and the Advanced Command Post (PMA) which, in addition, will be permanently linked to the security and emergency coordination center of 1-1-2 Canarias.
The municipal Civil Protection service has also prepared an important operation, which is also expected to be reinforced by volunteer groups from up to six Tenerife municipalities united with the Santa Cruz collective. These personnel are essential due to their experience and specialization in different tasks, being necessary support for all emergency resources. Up to 40 volunteers are estimated to work each day of the Carnival dances.
