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Fuengirola s first phase “Policía de CercaníaThe “Proximity Police” experiment ended after several week, and the Town Hall described the results as “very positive”, both for the public’s well-being and for closer relationships with local residents and businesses.
The town is experimenting with “bobbies in the beat”, where police officers leave their cars and connect with the community by foot. The patrols took place in areas like Centro, Los Boliches–Los Pacos, Boquetillo, San Cayetano, Recinto Ferial–Plaza de la Hispanidad–Núcleos, Torreblanca–Carvajal, Miramar–Virgen del Carmen, and Las Chozas. The goal is to make the police more visible on the streets and engage the public directly.
Local police spoke to locals from their patrol cars
Officers conducted dozens conversations with business owners, including shop owners, restaurants, pharmacies, gym owners and neighbours walking their dogs. They took note of the concerns of these individuals and forwarded them to the relevant council departments. The programme served as a “radar” to improve the overall management of urban services.
In addition to prevention, the patrols include traffic checks, road-safety oversight, caravan and Motorhome monitoring on the fairgrounds. They also identify urban misdemeanours, improper public space usage, and provide health services and assistance to vulnerable individuals.
The council felt that the community-oriented approach was improving the perceived safety of sensitive zones and reducing conflicts.
The project will include route refinements, increased focus on areas of priority and integration of this closer policing into Fuengirola Municipal Security Plan.
Studies show that foot patrols can reduce crime in certain areas
Researchers have consistently shown that a police officer on the beat in troublesome areas can reduce crime rates by deterring criminals and intervening quickly.
It is important to note that the word “you” means “you”. Philadelphia Foot Patrol ExperimentAfter 12 weeks, treatment areas saw a 23 per cent reduction in violent crimes compared to stop-and-check controls, preventing a net 53 violent crimes (accounting for minor displacement). After 12 week, treatment areas experienced a reduction of 23 percent in violent crime, compared with stop-and-check control. They prevented 53 violent crimes net (after minor displacement). Zones with high levels of violence before intervention showed benefits.
A UK crossover randomised trial in Southend-on-Sea (2021) tested brief daily foot patrols (15–20 minutes) in serious violence hotspots. On patrol day, serious community violence harm fell 88.5%. All street-visible offenses also dropped 35.6%.
Fuengirola’s success at building trust and easing tensions in the local community mirrors these findings. They prove that visible, consistent foot patrols increase both safety and confidence.
