Since the Govern’s intention to introduce mossos d’esquadra in some high schools to reduce conflict and promote coexistence became known, controversy has not stopped emerging. The majority of the educational community has shown opposition to the proposal. And now it is the mossos d’esquadra themselves who oppose the idea of being present in high schools without being armed. This was expressed by the Uspac union, the majority among the rank-and-file officers.
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“A police officer is a police officer, and their work tool unfortunately in this country and many others is the defense, handcuffs, and the gun,” explained Uspac spokesperson Alberto Palacio to Ser Catalunya. “I remind you that we are at level 4 out of 5 of terrorist alert. It only remains for people to find out that there are unarmed police officers,” he added.
Palacio also warned about the increase of knives in high schools and wondered what capacity an officer would have to act without their usual defense tools in case of conflict: “Does anyone believe that there are no knives in high schools? What can an officer do in a fight in a high school where these weapons are present?”
Although he emphasized that educational centers are safe spaces, he maintained that terrorist threats and jihadists can attack anywhere, schools, metro, or public spaces. For this reason, he demanded that the protection of the officers be taken into account.
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He also criticized that the proposed device is individual and not in pairs, as is usual in the force, and stated that, in situations of high conflict, such as possible confrontations between youth gangs, an unarmed officer could be vulnerable.
This pilot plan of the Govern is underway in 13 high schools in Catalonia after two of the initial 14 refused to participate and one from Baix Llobregat requested to join. The test is planned to take place in six educational zones – Val d’Aran, Vic, Urgell, Sabadell, Prat de Llobregat, and L’Hospitalet de Llobregat – and six agents specialized in conflict prevention and mediation will be deployed.
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