Around 3,000 residents from L’Hospitalet and Esplugues took to the streets on 1 October demanding better security in their neighbourhoods. The protest shows that safety remains a major unresolved issue for Mayor David Quirós, who inherited the problem from former mayor Núria Marín when he took over in June 2024.
Security and relations with the local police force have been persistent challenges in L’Hospitalet. Right now, after just over a year with Quirós in charge of Catalonia’s second-largest city, both issues continue to cause friction between residents, police, and the council.
The march coincides with ongoing disputes between the council and the Guàrdia Urbana over a new labour agreement. Meanwhile, police officers have also held protests during their contract negotiations, which adds another layer of complexity to the security situation.
The demonstration highlights how public safety concerns have persisted across different administrations. However, residents clearly feel that neither the previous mayor nor the current one has adequately addressed their security worries, which is why thousands turned out to make their voices heard.
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