Keeping elderly British ex-pats safe and aware of some of the security problems they may encounter in Spain

On Tuesday, 25^th June, Lt. Francisco Javier Ayuso, from the Guardia Civil in Benicarló, gave an interesting and informative illustrated talk in English to more than 100 British people from Alcossebre, Peñíscola and surrounding towns, on their security. 

The talk, initiated by the Guardia Civil, the Local Police and the Alcala de Xivert-Alcossebre Council, was held in the Alcossebre Pensioners’ Hall, with the Alcossebre Deputy Mayor, Ricardo Aguilar, Councillor Desam Pitarch and officers of the Guardia Civil and Local Police in attendance.

The talk was aimed principally at older people and covered a wide variety of subjects, all related to improving security and safety.  Francisco Javier Ayuso warned everyone about the risks from organised groups of juvenile criminals, of the influence on crime of drugs and alcohol.  He included crimes of cyber-bullying and gender equality and those specifically targeting the easily recognised foreign holidaymaker, particularly those who have recently arrived with GB number plates, car hire company names on the back of cars.  He warned people to be alert to unknown (and unauthorised) callers claiming to be from a utility or other company and requiring entry to their property.  If you have not called for them to come then they should be denied access.

Francisco Javier Ayuso said that there is a Police Plan promoting people’s correct attitude to preventing an increase in crimes of theft, scam, fraud, robberies in the home and on the street and that the elderly in particular can be vulnerable to violent crimes.  Even in Spain, more marriages are ending in divorce, resulting in ex’s returning to live with their parents, or grandparents taking on responsibility for the care of the children so that the parents can work, if they have a job, and this can lead to abuse within the family.

Some of the crime has come about through changes in values – less respect for other people or the reduction in authority.

He reported that all the security, health and social care agencies are trying to improve and speed up communications between their various bodies and to provide a seamless sequence of events from the time a crime is reported to the Guardia Civil or the Local Police, investigated, and any health or physical abuse problems attended to, leading to the criminal(s) being apprehended.  Community policing is being increased.

In particular he referred to crimes committed in car parks along the AP7.  Always check that when your car is parked anywhere, that it is properly locked.  At ATMs, always ensure that there are no spurious pieces of equipment in the slots to ‘clone’ your card or to ‘trap’ the money you are trying to withdraw.  Make sure that all your passwords and IDs for on-line banking are known only to yourself, and do not respond to any ‘phishing’ – however genuine it may appear.

Lt. Francisco Javier Ayuso spoke for over an hour to an extremely attentive audience, and received enthusiastic applause at the end, when there was the opportunity for the audience to ask questions. 

He gave out some useful phone numbers for use in an emergency:

Guardia Civil – 062.   

Guardia Civil in Alcossebre – 964 412 169

Guardia Civil in Alcala – 964 410 002

Emergency – Fire:  085

General emergencies – 112 (this is a central number for all emergencies)

Additionally these may be useful:-   Alcossebre Medical Centre – 964 412 880

Alcala de Xivert Medical Centre – 964 411 136

Red Cross – 964 150 035