Unions Sue Icod de los Vinos Over Deteriorating Police Detention Conditions

Conditions at the Icod de los Vinos police detention center have reached a breaking point, raising serious concerns about public safety and human rights. According to a coalition of unions—CSIF, UGT, Intersindical Canaria, and Comisiones Obreras—the facility, which serves six municipalities in northern Tenerife, fails to meet basic standards for sanitation, accessibility, and workplace safety.

The crisis stems from administrative inaction that began last May, when the unions first filed a formal complaint with the Icod city council. They have received no response since. The facility suffers from severe neglect, including crumbling infrastructure, a lack of internal communication systems, and no electronic surveillance. Officers describe the working environment as precarious; for example, the cells lack toilets, and the absence of proper equipment forces staff to manage complex logistics for even basic transfers. These issues are compounded by overcrowding, which frequently overwhelms the limited staff on duty, particularly during night shifts.

This situation highlights a broader jurisdictional problem for municipalities that host judicial districts. While these towns receive state funding—roughly 36 euros per detainee per day—to cover maintenance and equipment, the unions argue that this money is not being reflected in the actual state of the cells. The facility currently lacks fireproof materials, proper ventilation, and clear protocols for handling high-risk detainees or those with reduced mobility.

With the local government refusing to comment and failing to act, the unions have now taken the matter to court. The resolution of this case will require more than just building repairs; it demands a clear decision on who is ultimately responsible for the custody of detainees in municipal facilities, where a lack of resources is now jeopardizing the legal integrity of police procedures across the region.