Barcelona reinforces security with 500 new cameras on the seafront and in Ciutat Vella

Mayor Jaume Collboni explained that the measure seeks to prevent crime and deter offenders, with the aim of eventually installing one thousand devices in the coming years.

Barcelona currently has around 300 cameras, a figure the council considers «insufficient» compared with other major European cities. Collboni defended the plan, saying that it is a method that is «fully respectful» of citizens’ privacy.

The project is overseen by the High Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJC), which will validate each camera individually, its exact location and its viewing angle. According to the mayor, the intention is not only to facilitate arrests, but also to act as a preventive tool against possible crimes.

With this expansion, the council aims to balance the sense of safety in public space and respond to growing local demand for greater monitoring at points where crime has caused greater concern.