L'Hospitalet de Llobregat recorded 10,632 criminal incidents between January and June 2026, a 10.6% decrease compared to the same period in 2025. The Bastió shock plan, activated in May, is beginning to show results.
The second most populous city in Catalonia, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, has managed to reverse the upward trend in crime that it has been experiencing for years. According to data presented this Thursday at the Security and Justice Committee, chaired by the President of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, crimes decreased by 10.6% in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period last year. In absolute figures, this represents 1,258 fewer crimes than in 2025, although the total remains high: 10,632 criminal incidents.
Thefts Remain the Most Common Crime
Despite the overall decline, thefts continue to be the most common type of crime in L'Hospitalet. During the first six months of the year, 3,613 thefts were recorded, a figure that still concerns residents and authorities. This data is set against a backdrop of general improvement in Catalonia, where crimes fell by 7.6% in the last year, as highlighted by the Interior Minister, Núria Parlon.
However, the Government also admitted to a worrying increase: the use of firearms on the streets of Catalonia has risen. This phenomenon, linked to drug trafficking and repeat offenders, has necessitated the reinforcement of police operations in the metropolitan area of Barcelona.
The Bastió Plan, Key to the Reduction
The improvement in L'Hospitalet is not coincidental. In February 2026, the Mossos d'Esquadra confirmed a new spike in crime, prompting the Catalan police to design and implement the Bastió plan, a specific shock plan for the city. Since then, the results have been progressive: already in the first quarter of 2026, a first decrease of 6.6% was observed, and now the complete semester confirms the trend.
Among the most effective measures of the Bastió plan is the dismantling of around 50 drug houses since April 2025. These properties, where drugs were sold and consumed, were linked to burglaries in vehicles and establishments. The Mossos and the Urban Guard of L'Hospitalet have intensified pressure on these points, which has contributed to reducing associated crime.
The Displacement of Crime from Barcelona
One of the factors explaining the previous spike in crime in L'Hospitalet was the displacement of repeat offenders from Barcelona and the airport. Police pressure in the Catalan capital and in Prat de Llobregat pushed these criminals to municipalities such as L'Hospitalet, Cornellà, or Esplugues. This situation led to an increase in burglaries, which rose by 37.5% in 2025 compared to the previous year.
The L'Hospitalet City Council and the Generalitat have worked together to tackle this problem. Collaboration between the Mossos and local police has been essential to restore safety in neighbourhoods such as Florida, Pubilla Cases, or Collblanc, where the perception of insecurity was highest.
Improvements That Residents Were Expecting
The drop in crime comes after months of community protests. In October 2025, around 3,000 people demonstrated in L'Hospitalet to denounce the increase in insecurity and incivility. That mobilization highlighted the need for more police presence and measures against repeat offenders.
Now, official data confirms that the situation is beginning to improve, although the council warns that vigilance must not be relaxed. The Mayor of L'Hospitalet, David Quirós, has stated that the decrease is a first step, but that sustained effort is needed to consolidate the trend. Residents, for their part, hope that the reduction will be felt in their daily lives, especially in the most affected areas.
The next report, corresponding to the third quarter of 2026, will be crucial to see if the trend continues. Meanwhile, the Bastió plan remains active and the Mossos will continue operations against drug houses and repeat crime.
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