Trade unions, the Federation of Public Services of CCOO Canarias and UGT Canarias, have reported on Wednesday that the municipality of Granadilla in Tenerife has experienced several nights lacking Local Police coverage due to insufficient personnel.

Concerns Over Population Growth

These two unions, representing 78% of municipal staff, indicate that the situation may worsen in the coming months, coinciding with an increase in population due to summer and tourist activities.

In a statement, they emphasised that Granadilla has 58,752 registered inhabitants, but the actual population, when including unregistered residents, transient populations, and visitors, is estimated to be around 70,000 people.

They also pointed out that the municipality is “particularly sensitive” due to its territorial size, dispersed population centres, the presence of Tenerife South Airport, and “intense activity” in public spaces.

Furthermore, Granadilla serves as a night-time police reference for the entire area, as neighbouring municipalities do not have Local Police during night hours.

The unions warn that “when the night shift cannot be covered in Granadilla, thousands of residents are left without their first line of response to accidents, conflicts, incidents of gender violence, or any emergencies requiring immediate presence.”

56 Officers Available

The police workforce currently comprises 56 local officers, of whom only 43 are on active duty on the streets, covering 24 hours a day throughout the year.

The unions remind us that Decree 75/2003 for coordinating Local Police forces in the Canary Islands outlines that a municipality like Granadilla should have an estimated workforce of around 129 officers.

“This indicates that there is a shortfall of over 70 local police officers necessary to meet the staffing level appropriate for the municipality,” they added, noting that the population has nearly doubled over the past two decades, while the number of patrolling officers “has barely changed.”

No Overtime Hours

On 18 May, the Local Police workforce agreed in assembly to stop doing overtime as a form of protest.

CCOO and UGT explain that this decision is also due to an unresolved labour issue, as between 2019 and 2022, the City Council paid the specific supplement at a rate lower than established, creating an accumulated debt averaging over €2,000 per officer, with some debts dating back more than six years.

Additionally, the new agreement, which has already been negotiated and signed, has been pending approval for seven months, while the workforce continues operating under an agreement not updated since 2006.

The unions emphasise that regular service continues to be delivered normally and that the public announcement does not aim to alarm residents, “but to clearly communicate a reality that directly impacts the safety of the municipality.”

They call upon the Granadilla de Abona City Council for “a serious plan” for workforce expansion to bring the police force closer to the figures set by regional regulations and to prevent the municipality from “continuing to experience nights without Local Police.”

“The safety of nearly 59,000 residents, who become around 70,000 in summer, cannot depend on 43 officers carrying out the work of a workforce of about 130,” the unions assert.