National Police Shortage

Next month the National Police in the Balearics are to lose 68 officers for one reason or another, but only eleven officers have applied for a Balearic posting. Thirty-five of the National Police leaving for other postings are currently based in Palma, one in Manacor, 27 in Ibiza and five in Minorca. A total of seven National Police have applied to fill the vacancies in Palma, one for Ibiza, three for Mahon and none for Ciutadella. The situation has been criticised by the Police Union, which yesterday said it understands why very few National Police want to come to the Balearics. According to the Union it is because the cost of living is too high and many fear that they will be cut off from the rest off Spain. The Union also criticised the National Police's “summer operation” in the Balearics which involves officers from the mainland being used to boost policing on the island to protect tourists.