Crime down 54% during La Mercè festival

La Mercè is over, going out with a bang to the soundtrack of Rosalía's latest release, and the security report after the festival has shown that crime was down for this year's edition.

Crime fell by more than 54% during La Mercè compared to the previous year, according to data from the Catalan police, the Mossos d'Esquadra.

They add that arrests, which were mostly for petty thefts and robberies with violence, were reduced by a third.

On the other hand, 75% more people were identified by police compared to 2023.

Gun-related incidents fell by more than 16%.

During the nights of concerts and activities in the city, officers performed random checks where it was expected that lots of people would gather.

Among the incidents during the festivities, the Mossos d'Esquadra highlighted an attempted robbery with violence in Ciutat Vella in the morning from Saturday to Sunday.

An off-duty officer intervened to prevent this, resulting in a cut to his arm that required stitches.

Government spokesperson Sílvia Paneque said that the "preventive" police actions at the festivities in both Barcelona and Tarragona were "very satisfactory."