Santa Cruz Police Union Criticizes Use of Unmarked Rental Cars for Patrol Duties
The CSIF union has filed a formal complaint against the Santa Cruz de Tenerife Local Police for using unequipped rental cars, which they argue violate safety regulations, while city officials maintain the vehicles are a temporary measure for low-intensity tasks.
The Santa Cruz de Tenerife Local Police are facing criticism after the CSIF union raised concerns about the use of rental cars for police duties. The union argues that these vehicles lack the necessary safety equipment, violating regional regulations.
According to the union, the rental cars—sourced from Cicar—do not meet the requirements set out in Decree 20/2020. Specifically, they lack essential gear such as fire extinguishers, first aid kits, traffic cones, police tape, and specialized lighting. Union delegate Jesús Illada stated that these deficiencies not only limit the officers' ability to respond to emergencies but also represent poor management of public resources, impacting even specialized units like the Women’s Assistance Group.
The union has filed a formal complaint with the City Council’s Occupational Risk Prevention service, warning of the safety and legal risks of using non-adapted vehicles for police work.
In response, Security Councilor Gladis de León defended the city’s actions during a recent committee meeting. She explained that the rentals are a temporary, stopgap measure while official patrol cars are being repaired. De León noted that because these are short-term rentals, they cannot be fitted with permanent police equipment, and their use is restricted to administrative tasks or low-intensity operations.
The situation highlights a broader challenge for local government: when a reserve fleet is unavailable, authorities must rely on temporary solutions that, according to unions, fall short of the safety standards required by law.