A staggering 66,672 scheduled hours of security surveillance on the Barcelona Metro network went uncovered in 2023, a significant increase that has ignited a political firestorm over passenger and staff safety. The right-wing VOX party brought these figures to light; they represent a more than 65% rise from the roughly 40,000 unstaffed hours recorded the previous year.
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Gonzalo de Oro Pulido, president of the VOX party group in the Barcelona City Council, made the denunciation. He condemned the shortfall as a reflection of an “abandonment of security” within the city’s vital public transport system, which Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) manages.
A Widening Security Gap
Private firms, primarily Prosegur and Securitas, provide outsourced security on the metro, contracted to supply guards across the network’s stations and lines. Data revealed by the political party and reported by CatNoticias shows the vast majority of the deficit falls under Prosegur’s remit, which failed to cover over 48,500 hours. Securitas accounted for the remaining 18,000-plus unstaffed hours.
Trade union representatives from the security sector have repeatedly warned that such staffing shortages place both the public and their own personnel at risk. Guards are often forced to patrol alone or cover areas far larger than planned, compromising their ability to respond effectively to incidents ranging from petty theft to serious assault. This chronic understaffing raises concerns about the city’s ability to protect citizens in public spaces. This fear is underscored by recent violent crimes, including the start of a trial for a fatal iron bar attack in Barceloneta.
Political Pressure Mounts
The revelation comes amid a broader, ongoing debate about public safety in Barcelona. Victimisation surveys have previously indicated that a significant portion of residents have experienced a crime in the metropolitan area, with public transport often cited as a hotspot for such incidents. The issue is a key political battleground, with parties like VOX consistently focusing on law-and-order topics, as seen in other recent campaigns, such as when Vox claimed 85% of Sant Martí’s foreign-run shops break rules.
The growing security deficit on the metro starkly contrasts with significant investments in other areas of the city’s safety infrastructure. While guards are stretched thin on the platforms of historic stations like Barceloneta, which recently marked 50 years of service, the city is simultaneously developing advanced technological defences. For instance, Barcelona recently announced plans for a €9.4m quantum security ring to protect critical data infrastructure.
In response to the staffing crisis, various political and union groups are demanding immediate action. The proposals range from increasing the number of private security personnel and improving coordination with police forces to a complete review of the current outsourcing contracts with Prosegur and Securitas. The pressure is now on the municipal government to demonstrate how it will close this critical gap and restore public confidence in the safety of one of Europe’s busiest metro systems.
