The City Council of Badalona plans to acquire three devices this year and 25 more in 2027. Mayor Albiol defends that this will enhance the safety of both agents and citizens.
The Urban Guard of Badalona will have a total of 28 Taser guns for interventions deemed high-risk. The City Council of Badalona announced on Monday the gradual acquisition of these electric devices, considered non-lethal weapons, which will be incorporated into the equipment of the municipal police force.
The council plans to purchase three units before the end of 2026 and complete the provision during 2027 with another 25 guns, as stated in a press release. In this way, the city joins other Catalan municipalities that have already incorporated this type of device into their police forces.
The Mayor of Badalona, Xavier García Albiol, has defended the measure as “a further step to enhance the safety of both agents and citizens.” In the statement, the mayor noted that the Taser guns will allow for interventions “with more guarantees” against individuals who exhibit violent behaviour or pose a danger to their own integrity, that of others, or the police themselves.
“Safety is an absolute priority for this government, and we will continue to equip the police force with the necessary means to act effectively in high-risk situations,” Albiol stated. The mayor added that the Urban Guard will have “all the necessary resources” to protect the residents of Badalona.
The Taser guns will be reserved for situations of special complexity, where it is necessary to neutralise a violent person without resorting to a firearm. According to the City Council, their use will be positioned as a resource prior to the firearm in those cases where legislation permits its use.
Before the devices come into service, the council will approve specific regulations to govern their use by the municipal force. The protocol will establish the principles, guarantees, and specific circumstances under which they may be employed, aiming to ensure a gradual and proportionate response.
The regulation will prioritise mediation techniques and verbal containment. Taser guns may only be used when these avenues are insufficient. This aims to minimise the risk of serious injuries for both the agents and the individuals being intervened.
Agents authorised to carry these devices will need to receive specific training provided by the Institut de Seguretat Pública de Catalunya. Additionally, they will have to undergo mandatory annual refresher training, following a model similar to that established for handling firearms.
The City Council is also considering incorporating body cameras linked to the Taser guns. If this measure is eventually implemented, the recording devices would automatically activate when an agent draws the electric weapon during an intervention. The aim, according to the council, is to “enhance transparency and guarantees for both the police and the public.”
The incorporation of Taser guns responds to the municipal government's desire to improve the Urban Guard's response capacity to violent incidents. Badalona thus becomes one of the municipalities in the metropolitan area of Barcelona that is betting on this tool, which is already used by forces such as the Mossos d'Esquadra in certain units.
The announcement comes amid a debate on the use of electric devices by security forces. Various studies have indicated that, when used correctly, Taser guns reduce injuries for both agents and detainees compared to other immobilisation techniques. However, they have also generated controversy due to cases of excessive use in other countries.
The City Council of Badalona has assured that the regulations governing their use will be strict and will guarantee that they are only employed in extreme situations. This measure is part of the security action plan that Albiol's government team has promoted since the beginning of the mandate.
The residents of Badalona will see how, over the coming months, the agents of the Urban Guard carry these new devices. The council expects the first units to be operational before the end of the year, once the regulations have been approved and the agents have completed their training.
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