Catching and rewarding crime - 10 November 2008

Posted by Paul Collins No comments

In the same week the American public went out in their millions to vote for the new Leader of the Free World, Spain was the subject of two slightly less proud news stories that affect the thousands of Brits who own property in Spain, as well as the sizeable group who live there permanently.

Firstly, there was the announcement that almost all of the illegally-built properties constructed with bribes to planning officials and almost everyone else in Marbella town hall will be saved under a new set of retrospective planning regulations that are due to be given final approval next year. These new laws will provide reassurance for those British buyers whose homes were under threat of demolition when the full extent of official corruption was uncovered in recent years. Some 500 homes are still facing a bleak future as the proposed legislation does not save the, but Marbella mayor Angeles Muñoz is said to be fighting to save these as well.

Unsurprisingly, not everyone is happy about this development. Antonio Castro of the Green coalition said “They have just swept 16,000 illegal buildings and 700 illegal businesses under the carpet. This is rewarding corruption.” The rewards for those involved were not altogether scant either – former mayor Marisol Yagüe is said to have charged up to €84,000 for a dodgy building licence. Famously, former deputy mayor Isabel Garcia Marcos was found to have €378,000 in €500 notes in a safe at home.

Cynics would suggest that the timing of the announcement, when the headlines were monopolized by the election of Barack Obama as US President, was a little suspicious, but it could be argued that burying this kind of headline in one of the biggest weeks for the democratic world is in keeping with the whole affair.

While some of those of questionable character who were probably a sitting a little nervously in Marbella will now be breathing a sigh of relief, British criminals based on the Costa Blanca might be thinking of heading south for a quieter and more relaxed winter. British police forces have organised an operation to track down some of the most-wanted criminals who are thought to be living in this part of Spain, and unsurprisingly, they have the support of the law-abiding expat citizens of the Costa Blanca.

Operation Captura is aiming to round up a selection of the worst criminals thought to be hiding out on the Iberian peninsular. The first time the operation was run two years ago, 13 of the 30 listed criminals were captured, and police are hoping for a similar rate of success this time around. Using a combination of posters, beermats and other high-visibility methods targeted at places popular with expats, police hope to encourage Brits to point the finger at those living in their midsst who have a less-than-proud past. Using the Crimestoppers website and telephone hotline to guarantee anonymity should reassure anyone wanting to shop someone they recognize.

Having lived on the Costa Blanca myself, I know how much the law-abiding majority of the expat British population dislike the fact their home has come to be seen as a haven for undesirables on the run from the UK. I predict substantial success for Operation Captura in the coming months…

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