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Barcelona Police Cut Crime 8.8% in First Half 2025
City police and Mossos d’Esquadra report fewer offences across most categories while stepping up detentions and prevention work.
How we reported this
Offences recorded in Barcelona dropped 8.8 percent in the first half of 2025 compared with the same months in 2024, according to figures released by the city’s security department. The decline extends a longer trend, with recorded crime also 22.9 percent below the level seen in 2019.
The reduction arrives as police numbers on the streets reach their highest point, with 3,500 City Police officers joined by a similar number of Mossos d’Esquadra personnel patrolling daily. Officials credit tighter coordination between the two forces and expanded prevention work for the improvement.
Property crime and repeat offending both ease
Property offences, which make up 85 percent of the total, fell 10 percent. Thefts declined 6.8 percent and street muggings 5.5 percent, while burglaries dropped 31.4 percent, break-ins at commercial premises fell 50.7 percent and thefts from vehicles decreased 35.6 percent. Reoffending offences fell 10 percent after 29 targeted operations that produced 489 detentions.
Crimes against people rose 2.8 percent and now account for 8.5 percent of the overall total. Detentions overall increased 5.3 percent. Under the DAGA plan, officers seized 1,844 knives, 48.5 percent more than in the first half of 2024. Police also closed 71 drug sales and consumption sites, 30 of them residential properties returned to owners.
Victim support and public confidence
The Barcelona Victims Survey showed the victim rate at 28.6 percent, down 1.2 percentage points. Public perception of citywide security rose 5.5 percent and neighbourhood security 6.3 percent. The Comprehensive Victim Support System handled nearly 2,000 cases, a 1 percent increase on 2024.
Investigations into sexual violence reached a resolution rate above 85 percent, with detentions in that category rising 31.9 percent. Gender violence fell 1.3 percent and domestic violence 1.1 percent. City Council and the Barcelona Provincial Prosecution Service will soon sign an agreement creating a dedicated City Police unit to assist with repeat-offender cases and victim records.
The data, published on the city security website on 21 July 2025, show continued pressure on both property and repeat offending. Residents can follow further updates through the same official channel.