Santa Cruz Police Unions Criticize UNIPOL Revival as Political Stunt Amid Staffing Crisis
Police unions in Santa Cruz de Tenerife have criticized the city council’s plan to revive the UNIPOL unit, labeling it an understaffed, politically motivated publicity stunt that fails to address critical logistical and structural shortages within the force.
The Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council’s decision to bring back the Police Intervention Unit (UNIPOL) has sparked a sharp disagreement between Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez’s administration and police unions. Jesús Illada, a representative for the CSIF union, told COPE Tenerife that officers view the move as a political publicity stunt rather than a genuine operational improvement, noting that it lacks the necessary administrative and technical backing.
The main point of contention is the gap between the city’s announcement and the reality of the official staffing plan. While the council claims the unit is a response to public safety concerns, the CSIF argues that it operates outside the official structure. They point out that the new unit lacks the specific roles that provided the technical support and specialization of the original UNIPOL, which was disbanded in 2021 following legal challenges. Union representatives warn that this approach creates precarious working conditions by pulling officers away from their regular duties without actually increasing the total number of staff.
Data on the police force supports the union’s skepticism. The number of officers has fallen from 350 in 2023 to 346 today—a trend that contradicts the Security Department’s own admission that 158 new hires are needed. With fewer officers available, there are growing concerns about the force’s ability to manage essential services like traffic control, public order, and tourist area surveillance.
Beyond staffing shortages, the union describes a critical logistical crisis. They report that uniforms have not been replaced in three years and that a large portion of the vehicle fleet is frequently out of service for repairs. Furthermore, the lack of updated training and mandatory shooting practice has raised doubts about whether the unit is truly prepared for complex operations.
The CSIF also views the December 2026 launch date as suspicious. Because the unit is set to begin just months before the May 2027 local elections, the union believes the project is driven by electoral strategy rather than sound planning. Ultimately, the union argues that the initiative is a superficial fix that fails to address the force's structural problems and ignores the neglect of basic services in the capital.