Arico Police Declare Service Operationally Inviable Amid Critical Resource Shortages
Police in the Tenerife municipality of Arico have declared their service operationally unviable due to chronic resource shortages, deteriorating facilities, and two decades of administrative stagnation.
Public safety in the Tenerife municipality of Arico has reached a breaking point. According to documents shared with the Asipal union and reported by Europa Press, the local police force has issued a formal warning that their service is no longer operationally viable. They are now considering escalating the matter to the Labor Inspectorate and the Provincial Prosecutor's Office in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, citing poor management by the local government.
The officers state that a chronic lack of resources violates the Canary Islands Decree 20/2020. Their vehicle fleet is in poor condition, with some cars having traveled over 700,000 kilometers. These vehicles suffer from frequent mechanical failures and lack essential safety features, such as proper partitions and regulated lighting, which hinders their ability to respond to emergencies. Furthermore, the force lacks basic equipment like breathalyzers and sound level meters. They also lack approved computer systems, forcing officers to process reports by hand in violation of modern administrative standards.
Beyond these operational failures, the report highlights serious concerns regarding the police station itself. Officers describe a building suffering from dampness and structural damage. They also point to significant safety hazards, including disorganized electrical wiring near network equipment and the absence of an approved gun safe, which they believe creates a risk of fire or electrical accidents.
The situation is further complicated by two decades of administrative stagnation. Because the municipality has failed to update its Job Position List (RPT), officers’ salaries remain frozen. To earn a fair wage, they are forced to work constant overtime, leading to exhaustion that they claim affects the quality of service provided to the public.
Finally, the officers argue that there is a stark gap between the image projected by the City Council and the reality on the ground. While the council claims to be modernizing, officers report they still lack access to basic police databases and digital tools. They warn that this lack of planning and outdated administrative processes creates legal uncertainty and could leave the local government liable for negligence regarding the working conditions of its employees.