Palma lifeguards have accused local authorities of failing to tackle mounting security and staffing concerns on the city’s beaches, warning that workers and holidaymakers are being left increasingly vulnerable ahead of the busy summer season.
The group has directed its criticism at Palma’s tourism councillor, Llorenç Bauzá, and the mayor, Jaime Martínez, claiming the municipality has failed to provide adequate resources or meaningful support. Lifeguards say a string of recent thefts and break-ins reflects what they describe as a growing climate of insecurity along the coastline.
Among the incidents cited was the theft of a service bicycle and the break-in of a vehicle while a lifeguard was on duty. In a separate episode at El Arenal, a lifeguard reportedly left a watchtower to deal with complaints of anti-social behaviour, only to return and discover the facility had been broken into and a mobile phone stolen. Colleagues described the incident as “unacceptable”.
The workers insist the problems extend beyond isolated crimes, pointing to what they say is a broader lack of surveillance and public services on beaches stretching from Cala Major to Playa de Palma. They also highlighted ongoing infrastructure shortcomings, including the absence of public toilets and the continued closure of first aid stations in Cala Estancia and Ciudad Jardín.
In a statement, the lifeguards said it was “inadmissible” that those responsible for protecting thousands of beachgoers each day were expected to work in “undignified conditions and without adequate means”. The group has called for a public demonstration on 30 May to demand safer beaches and improved working conditions, warning that further protests and possible strike action could follow if no action is taken.