Crime in Barcelona surges 8.6% in a year, with 24% increase in sexual assaults

Crime in Barcelona increased by 8.6% in 2023 compared to 2022, according to police data presented during the annual review at the Local Security Board meeting.

In 2023, reports of sexual assault rose by 24.5%, while incidents of gender-based violence increased by 21% and cases of domestic violence rose by nearly 15%.

Theft, which accounts for almost half of all crime in the Catalan capital, has seen a significant increase of 6.5%, and fraud cases have risen by 35%, while arrests of repeat offenders have increased by 30%.

Despite the general rise in crime in Barcelona, police activity has also increased. Arrests increased by a significant 23%, investigations by 11%, personal identifications by 38% and vehicle identifications by nearly 36%.

"The police are doing their job," said the director general of the Catalan police Mossos d'Esquadra, Pere Ferrer. "These numbers are not a small change in police activity; it is a turning point in the presence and activity of the Mossos in the city."

Albert Batlle, Barcelona council's head of security, called for the need for more "legislative, procedural, and penal instruments" to tackle the rising crime rate.

Authorities emphasized that last year marked a complete return to normalcy after the pandemic, as the influx of tourists to the city reached levels comparable to those of 2019.

Theft and fraud are the most common crimes

In 2023, the number of crimes against personal property in Barcelona increased by 9.5%, with theft accounting for 48% and fraud for 15% of these incidents.

Theft increased by 6.5% in one year, reaching 94,776 incidents, and occurred mainly in public spaces (73%) and public transportation (22%).

Fraud accounted for nearly 15% of property crimes, with a dramatic increase of 35%, most of which, 70%, were committed online.

Commercial burglaries increased by 40%, while residential burglaries decreased by 1% and vehicle burglaries decreased by nearly 6%.

As for violent robberies, incidents in commercial establishments decreased by 13.4%, while violent street robberies increased by 6%.