Sílvia Catà: “We come from turbulent years, a natural and non-traumatic succession is needed”

Sílvia Catà speaks to La Vanguardia in a room of the Egara complex, in Sabadell. The head of the Girona Police Region will be appointed on Tuesday as chief commissioner of the Mossos d’Esquadra, replacing Miquel Esquius, who is leaving the position due to retirement. She will thus become the first woman to hold the highest rank in the Catalan police, a position that has changed hands nine times in the last decade.

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With your arrival as chief commissioner, will the Mossos achieve stability?

It is true that we come from turbulent years. Now Commissioner Esquius has been in charge of the police headquarters for two years and, therefore, this change needs to happen naturally, not traumatically as it did in previous years. It is a mandate from the Minister of the Interior and some continuity is needed so that projects can be consolidated.

You are the first woman to hold this position

I am the first woman, but behind that there is 29 years of work as a mossa d’esquadra. I have risen through all the command ranks of the force. Women increasingly occupy more relevant positions in society, both in private companies and in public administration, and we have to see it as normal because, after all, what has to emerge is talent. The police are also a reflection of society.

What will be your hallmark?

I lead from proximity and exemplarity. I want my mossos and my commanders to convey to the people we serve a lot of closeness, teamwork, and above all humility.

Josep Lluís Trapero resigned this week. Did he resign because he did not want you as chief of the Mossos?

I do not know. The minister told me some days ago that she trusted me to be the new head of the Mossos d’Esquadra and I accepted the proposal. I do not comment on what has happened with the Directorate General of Police or the figure of the director general because I have no information regarding this aspect.

Will Major Trapero return to his position in the Mossos and you will be his chief?

The General Commissariat to which Major Trapero will likely be assigned will depend directly on the figure of the director general of Police and not on the operational part of the force, which is the Police Headquarters. Therefore, the major will not depend on me.

And do you have a good relationship with the new director general of police Ferran López?

We have known each other for many years, just like with the major. They have a long career in the Mossos d’Esquadra. I have never worked personally or professionally with either of them, but their track record supports them.

Will you continue the policies against multiple recidivism and knife crime?

Both plans will continue. We have persistent crime that must be fought and the same with the Daga plan: we are doing an excellent job removing knives from circulation.

Gender violence remains one of the great scourges. What can be done to combat it?

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It is a matter of values and education, and it must be worked on transversally, not only within the Mossos d’Esquadra but working in network with social services, local police, and all those security operators who in one way or another can help women prevent criminal acts.

It must be made easier for women to report…

Yes, many times it is very difficult for women to report these types of incidents, especially if they are psychological violence and especially if they have young children. But we have to try to reach these women to minimize the impact of these psychological injuries, especially when minors are involved. The police must empathize a lot with the victim and look them in the eyes.

Another growing phenomenon is youth gangs

We notice that the proliferation of possession of knives is a critical point with younger boys; we will focus more efforts on combating and eradicating these harmful behaviors among some youths.

Another concern is street murders resulting from organized crime

Organized crime is a problem closely linked to marijuana, which we will better tackle thanks to the increase in personnel, more than 1,300 new officers by mid-August and more police academy classes next year.

Crime data say that crimes are decreasing, but the perception of insecurity is increasing.

It is true that crime data have been decreasing in Catalonia for months, but people feel unsafe in certain places. That is fought by increasing personnel in criminal investigation and working on prevention and proximity. We have to do prevention, be close to the citizens, look them in the eyes, get out of the car and ask people what is wrong, because police data do not always tell the whole story.

With you, will the Mossos infiltrate teachers’ assemblies?

With me, the Mossos will comply with the law and do everything possible to respect the rights and freedoms of citizens.

And will you continue with the pilot plan to bring Mossos to high schools?

For years we have had a very positive interaction with educational centers, giving safety talks or intervening when asked for help in conflicts or criminal acts. We will always have an open hand to help the educational world and other sectors of society that need us.

What role should the Mossos adopt regarding discourses linking crime and immigration?

We have to enforce the law. A criminal is a criminal regardless of race, skin color, or nationality. Our task is to prevent crime and, if not possible, investigate it and arrest the perpetrator. We focus on the person who harms others, not on whether they are immigrant or Catalan.

In this era of polarization, do you foresee more conflict?

We have had it for months and we have to adapt. We have to protect people by preventing antagonistic groups from harming each other, regardless of their ideals and respecting the democratic state.

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