A different reality
After the recent events in Font de la Pólvora, Calella and Barceloneta, many Catalans might have come to believe that the country resembles the Bronx or a branch of the Colombian drug trade. However, the reality is very different. Social networks have been filled with racist comments, but the reality does not correspond to this image.
Police coordination and results
The director of the Mossos, Pere Ferrer, has highlighted the coordination of police forces in Barcelona and the increase in agents in the capital, which has led to a reduction in thefts, robberies and crimes on public roads during 2024. Also, the arrests in Barceloneta and Calella were carried out in record time, and it is expected that those responsible for the events in Girona will be arrested soon.
Data and reality
Despite perceptions, the data show that the majority of the prison population in Catalonia is made up of fellow Spanish citizens. In addition, people convicted of criminal offenses remain around 40% in the case of foreigners. It is important to understand that immigration criminalizes mainly because of its irregular and precarious situation, and that only a small minority of individuals accumulate multiple crimes.
Context and responsibility
It is essential that journalism and politicians care about the context of events. Instead of spreading the word about crimes without contextualizing them, we need to address the issues of poverty, school absenteeism and vulnerability that affect certain neighborhoods. In addition, it is crucial that politicians commit to understanding the causes that lead certain groups to resort to drug trafficking.
conclusion
It is time for journalism and politicians to focus on the context of the facts, as the lack of contextualization can lead to misperception and increased prejudice. There is an urgent need to address the structural issues affecting neighborhoods, rather than simply reacting to one-off events.
