Cuts begin to bite security

Under orders to reduce their expenditure, Spain's armed forces and the police have been told to start looking at areas where money can be saved.
Last week, the military announced that it is going to be significantly down sizing its peace keeping commitments in Afghanistan and the Middle East.
And yesterday, the National Police announced that the highly effective Balearic GRECO anti serious crime squad is to be disbanded while those along the Costas will be remodelled.

Over the past few years, the Balearic GRECO unit has enjoyed a great deal of success in the crack down on organised serious crime smashing gangs dedicated to arms, drugs and people smuggling. Some of Russia's, most wanted Mafia bosses have been arrested at their homes in Majorca thanks partly to the dedicated work of the GRECO.

The news will come as a blow to the National Police which attracts thousands of applicants every year and the armed forces, when now I understand while the flash and glossy TV adverts trying to lure Spaniards to sign up, are no longer being broadcast as regularly as they were.

Word on the street is that Majorca has already taken over from the ‘Costa del Crime' with known wanted British criminals being spotted relaxing on the island.

I fear that many more may follow now the police have been forced to let their guard down.