Barcelona City Council will not allow Mossos d'Esquadra officers to be permanently stationed in its schools. This decision rejects a pilot programme announced by the Generalitat de Catalunya.
Deputy Mayor for Social Rights, Raquel Gil, stated that "no educational centre in the city participates, nor is it planned to participate" in the initiative. The Generalitat's plan involves assigning a Mossos d'Esquadra officer to educational centres in L'Hospitalet, El Prat, and Sabadell.
Barcelona's Community-Based Model
Barcelona maintains its own established model for coexistence, prevention, and safety in education. This approach focuses on social and community engagement. Gil highlighted the important role of social educators integrated into school teams.
She defended this system, noting its positive results. These outcomes come from integrating socio-educational profiles within the school community. This strengthens conflict prevention from a non-policing perspective. Gil insisted this approach is part of a consolidated city strategy. It centres on social support and community intervention within the educational environment.
Municipal Commission Debate
The Deputy Mayor's position emerged during a municipal commission debate. Opposition parties Junts per Catalunya, Barcelona en Comú, and Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya presented a proposition. They asked Mayor Jaume Collboni to urge the President to withdraw the plan and block its application in Barcelona. The commission approved this initiative with votes from the proposing groups. The PSC, PP, and Vox rejected it.
Gil justified the Socialist group's vote against the proposition. She considered it "a political proposition with an attempt to censure the Government." However, she clarified that points of agreement exist on how to address conflicts in schools. The municipal government shares part of the diagnosis on conflict management. However, it disagrees with the institutional approach proposed in the initiative.
Political Stances on School Safety
During the debate, spokespersons for Junts, BComú, and ERC criticised Collboni's government. They cited a lack of clear stance on the plan. They also raised concerns about the alleged infiltration of Mossos into a teachers' assembly at a city school. Meanwhile, the PP and Vox defended the need for increased police presence in institutes. They pointed to a rise in reported incidents within the school environment.
Barcelona will continue to prioritise its social and community model for school safety. This approach aims to foster a supportive educational environment. It will not adopt the Generalitat's proposed police presence in its schools.
Come and join our Barcelona English Speakers community on WhatsApp.
Originally published by Metrópoli Abierta - Urban Life. Read original article.
