Calvia Council’s new proposed plans to tackle Magalluf’s crime wave has generated a wave of opinions from Bulletin readers this week.
Magalluf security a much deeper problem
The Council’s idea is to install extra CCTV cameras in the area, have more police on the beat, which will cost the tax payer a fortune, even though an extra budget has been agreed to help with those costs, and increase the number of street lighting.Police in the area experienced a very busy Summer, making several arrests related to street crime, prostitution and drug dealing and the idea is to prevent that from happening again next Summer.But a team from the Bulletin dug deeper into the issue and it seems that while some approve of the new measures, others believe this will only fix the tip of the iceberg.

Several readers believe the only way to tackle the problem is to go straight to the main causes of the problem: Alcohol and bars.

"The only way to fix this is if bars start to contribute to policing costs and street cleaning," said one resident adding that "only the adoption of new laws that make bar owners and even bar staff legally responsible for the actions of their customers if they serve them while quite clearly drunk will protect them from rapists to perpetrators of violence or alcohol related deaths," could fix the issue.

The plan to increase police patrols in Magalluf seems to be reassuring for many residents and visitors, although there were those who had less than kind words for the local authorities.

" We pay enough taxes already compared to the mainland what we need is the police we already have doing their jobs and not leaning against their cars outside Burger King on the strip while the prostitutes walk past," one of our readers said, a view not shared by all.

"I think a police station or even just an office for tourists in Magalluf in the Summer is a fabulous idea , even if it’s just to deal with ‘denuncias’ and complaints.

"I also think that tourists shouldn’t have to pay for a translator", as they currently do.

"Maybe there could be something set up where as well as more police there could be people paid to escort or direct people home or in the right direction , taking the pressure off the police and leaving them to deal with the bigger issues going on," argued a third reader adding that even though she didn’t agree that tourists and residents should pay for extra street lighting, the idea is "very good".

Frank Leavers, a Bulletin columnist and someone with privileged insight into the situation having lived on the island for several years, revealed that there is more to the problem than meets the eye.

" The basic problem is that Majorca is perceived as Magalluf.

"Any self respecting tourism authority would have to contemplate shutting down, or at least cutting off this resort from embarrassing the whole island....an island, remember, that is still the number one tourism destination in Europe.

"Forget All Inclusive holidays, prostitutes and Lookey Lookey men.....Magalluf is not fit for purpose....the whole world knows it, apart from those who have a vested interest in pretending that after getting rid of the prozzies and the lookies all will be OK. I don’t think so."

The Mayor of Calvia announced last week that the plan, after consulting the Magalluf Tourism Commission, local bars, restaurants and hoteliers, agreed to increase security in the resort particularly along Punta Ballena next Summer.

Manuel Onieva said the Council was ready to make available some 20,000 euros to help covering security installation systems.

Police in Calvia also confirmed they had put aside 110,000 euros to cover police overtime next season.

Some strong words from some there Ro, Magaluf gets a right beating. But what about all the 1000's of law abiding people that go to Magaluf, like myself & San, for a good time? I wonder if the Germans think like that about, say Arenal? Be interesting to see how this thread goes mate, a great posting.

MMMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmm I really believe that its just words, they wont act on it at all. I have to say the police do just stand back and let it all happen.

CCTV, they have had it for years along the beach but how many tourists have been mugged and raped.

Making residents and bar/restaurant owners pay extra has to be a nono, why should they, these people are struggling to make a living now, I know because a friend had a bar out there and it nearly killed him with stress, they lost everything.

Mind I agree that bar owners should be held responsible for their customers safety, if a customer looks worse for wear then they should refuse to sell them anymore alcohol, also this gas in balloons should be banned, a friends fiancé died with one of these balloons it went down her neck and choked her to death, not the same it had no gas in she was just playing around but customers+alcohol+ballons in the mouth = death one day, I can see it coming.

More police is what's needed, actually police that make a difference is what's needed. Let them be rough with those that commit offences, let them arrest them and keep them locked up for at least 2 days, word will soon get round and this will stop others.

Magaluf should have its own police station, it used too years ago, right next door to Sol Gaudalupe, they should have a new one with proper holding cells.

Many have said the place is corrupt, with all these things going on and no one acting it does appear to be that way.

Translators, the only people that pay for these is the innocent, our hotel room was robbed once, all our money went, the Gaurdia Civil turned up and told us we would have to go to their police station in Palma Nova and fill out a form, they also told us we would have to arrange for a translator, luckily the manageress in our hotel was English and told us she would go to the station on our behalf and fill out the forms as we would end up stuck there for hours and it would cost us a lot of money.

It feels to me that Calvia does not want tourists, they allow tourists to be robbed, ripped off year after year and they do nothing about it.

I'm sure if they wanted to clean the streets they could, it would only take one summer season and they could have it all stopped.

Yes Mick exactly, most people are decent that includes teenagers. Maga isn't everyones cup of tea but it does a job.

I'm also not sure that everyone percives Mallorca in this way.

Daryn, yea good points there mate.

The translation thing is a joke, really no police that can speak english? Yea right.

All I can say that I dont really go into Maga at night unless I m withthe lads and generally steer clear of the strip, which to be honest I have always done, even as a teenager!

The strip used to be a great place to go, when we went in our younger days it was awesome, nothing like it is now, yes all the same bars and clubs were there but it just was a great place to be, no wannabe cage fighters etc

Hilarious that they think an increased police presence up the strip will do anything. Why not have the police patrol the areas where the prossie thiefs hang out?

I'm pretty sure you don't have to pay for a translator if they want to give you a motoring ticket