The Council’s idea is to install extra CCTV cameras in the area, have more police on the beat, which will cost the tax payer a fortune, even though an extra budget has been agreed to help with those costs, and increase the number of street lighting.Police in the area experienced a very busy Summer, making several arrests related to street crime, prostitution and drug dealing and the idea is to prevent that from happening again next Summer.But a team from the Bulletin dug deeper into the issue and it seems that while some approve of the new measures, others believe this will only fix the tip of the iceberg.
Several readers believe the only way to tackle the problem is to go straight to the main causes of the problem: Alcohol and bars.
"The only way to fix this is if bars start to contribute to policing costs and street cleaning," said one resident adding that "only the adoption of new laws that make bar owners and even bar staff legally responsible for the actions of their customers if they serve them while quite clearly drunk will protect them from rapists to perpetrators of violence or alcohol related deaths," could fix the issue.
The plan to increase police patrols in Magalluf seems to be reassuring for many residents and visitors, although there were those who had less than kind words for the local authorities.
" We pay enough taxes already compared to the mainland what we need is the police we already have doing their jobs and not leaning against their cars outside Burger King on the strip while the prostitutes walk past," one of our readers said, a view not shared by all.
"I think a police station or even just an office for tourists in Magalluf in the Summer is a fabulous idea , even if it’s just to deal with ‘denuncias’ and complaints.
"I also think that tourists shouldn’t have to pay for a translator", as they currently do.
"Maybe there could be something set up where as well as more police there could be people paid to escort or direct people home or in the right direction , taking the pressure off the police and leaving them to deal with the bigger issues going on," argued a third reader adding that even though she didn’t agree that tourists and residents should pay for extra street lighting, the idea is "very good".
Frank Leavers, a Bulletin columnist and someone with privileged insight into the situation having lived on the island for several years, revealed that there is more to the problem than meets the eye.
" The basic problem is that Majorca is perceived as Magalluf.
"Any self respecting tourism authority would have to contemplate shutting down, or at least cutting off this resort from embarrassing the whole island....an island, remember, that is still the number one tourism destination in Europe.
"Forget All Inclusive holidays, prostitutes and Lookey Lookey men.....Magalluf is not fit for purpose....the whole world knows it, apart from those who have a vested interest in pretending that after getting rid of the prozzies and the lookies all will be OK. I don’t think so."
The Mayor of Calvia announced last week that the plan, after consulting the Magalluf Tourism Commission, local bars, restaurants and hoteliers, agreed to increase security in the resort particularly along Punta Ballena next Summer.
Manuel Onieva said the Council was ready to make available some 20,000 euros to help covering security installation systems.
Police in Calvia also confirmed they had put aside 110,000 euros to cover police overtime next season.