Marseilles: 20 murders in nine months

Police in the southern French city of Marseilles are investigating the 20th murder there in the past nine months. They blame the upsurge in violence on drug gangs and the availability of military style weapons.

The Spanish Guardia Civil is to have direct access to EUROPOL

The Spanish Guardia Civil is to have direct access to EUROPOL information for the first time. Until now the Civil Guard has to go through the Europol National Union. The direct contacts will allow more rationalisation and will increase the effectiveness in the exchange of information, which could crucial in investigations. The Europol offices are in The Hague in Holland and concentrate much of its time in the fight against organised crime and terrorism.

Prison rules prohibit the use of mobile phones by inmates, but over the last year in the Alhaurín de la Torre Jail in Málaga

Prison rules prohibit the use of mobile phones by inmates, but over the last year in the Alhaurín de la Torre Jail in Málaga, the inmates have been finding phones. The workers in the jail say the frequency inhibitors do not work properly and they cannot be repaired because of a lack of money. The man responsible for the CCOO union in prisons, Juan Carlos Blanco, warned on Wednesday that could cause a grand security problem not only for jail, but across the country as well. ‘There are prohibited mobile phones in the possession of the inmates which are often used for drug trafficking operations, or mafia clan bosses can directed their business from the jail'. The Prison Authority has said when the civil servants have recovered 30 mobile phones in one day. The CCOO union says that an excuse of no funds is not enough because for full security the frequency inhibitors should work properly.

Málaga has seen one the largest increases in crime in Spain.

Only the Baleares has seen a greater rise in delinquency than the Costa del Sol. A review from the General State Prosecutor’s Office said there was a great deal of organised crime when compared to places like Jaén or Melilla. The statement continued: ‘In the province of Málaga the organised crime manifests itself in economic crimes such as robberies and assaults on businesses or homes, drug trafficking, prostitution, massive frauds and certain cases of administrative corruption’. ‘The presence of a high number of foreign residents, which in some occasions have a greater population than the Spanish, the diversion of homes in urbanisations along the coast, and the opportunity to make money from real estate’ are some of the factors why, according to statement from the Fiscalia, ‘Málaga is an ideal place for the refuge of persons linked to criminal activity’. The Costa del Sol is the main entry point in Spain and Europe for hashish.

26 year old tourist from Bolton has died after a hit and run in Benalmádena Costa

26 year old tourist from Bolton has died after a hit and run in Benalmádena Costa just before 5am on Friday. He was on the Costa del Sol for a short holiday with 3 friends. The accident took place on the avenida Antonio Machado. Just before 5am, a local Benalmádena police car was on patrol in the Costa district, along the old N-340, when they saw a body on the pavement about 500m away from the Plaza de Solymar. The police checked the body and saw he was dead. He is thought to have died instantly with his body showing several injuries which indicated that he had been run over by a vehicle. Police say he also seems to have hit a balustrade which runs along that section of road. The alleged driver of the car was arrested an hour later by the National Police and will go before the court today, Saturday, charged with negligent homicide and failing in the obligation to help. The case was solved quickly thanks to good cooperation in the police. Messages were sent to all the police in the area to be on the lookout for a damaged vehicle and an hour after the accident a patrol in Torremolinos reported a damaged vehicle. An arrest of a 26 year old Spaniard was made. Although the British man was carrying no identification at the time of the accident, the police investigation discovered that the 26 year old from Bolton was on holiday with three friends.

Body of woman found in the boot of a burnt out car in Granada

The body of a woman, thought to be young, has been found in the boot of a burnt out car in Granada. The National Police are investigating how the car got to the Camino de las Vacas in Granada. They were called out to the site last (Thursday) night, along with the Local Police and the Fire Service. First indications are that the woman did not die from the flames because the back of the vehicle was not affected.

Valencia is to fine clients of prostitutes in the street

The new measure is to come into force next month.The councillor for citizens safety and civil protection in Valencia City Hall. Miguel Domínguez, has said that the legislation will arrive next month if the opposition likes it or not. Domínguez made the declaration in a press conference held after a meeting with the Junta Local of Protección Civil. He said he was putting the final touches to the legislation. He justified the measure claiming it would put more local police on the streets. It follows similar measures in Barcelona. The Valencia council also wants to get the guerrillas off the streets. These are people who say that they will look after your car, usually for a Euro.

Police find a British man who had been held hostage in a flat in Manilva for five days

The National Police have liberated a British citizen who has been held in a flat in Manilva for five days. The object of the kidnapping was to collect a debt resulting from drug trafficking, and the Briton was also wanted for money laundering offences and illicit association. The operation has resulted in the arrest of the three kidnappers, two from the United Kingdom and the third from Ireland. It was carried out by agents of the first group of GRECO, the group which responds to organised crime on the Costa del sol, and Group 44 of the Central Brigade against drug trafficking. Both groups are part of the unit against drugs and organised crime UDYCO from the Judicial Police. Information about the hostage was obtained in Puerto Banús on August 30. The National Police say the kidnappers met with the victim by chance, taking him ‘violently’. After investigation the police established the organisation had a secure flat in Manilva noting that it was always guarded by members of the group. The raid on the flat was organised by the GEOS Special Operations Group from Málaga and Sevilla, allowing for the arrest of two kidnappers and the release of the kidnapped man. He was found prostrated on the bed in the back room tied down by this feet and hands with adhesive tape. He also showed signs of being hit repeatedly with a blunt object. Police found a baseball bat, a handgun, and an electric pistol. After identifying the individual it was discovered that he was wanted in Spain for money laundering and illicit association, and that the authorities in Britain were planning to issue a detention order. During the five days he was held, nobody denounced a missing person.

Police have several leads in the investigation of the large forest fire that started a week ago.

Suspicions that it was started malicously has possibly strengthened. Sources claim that the fire spread quickly because there was more than one fire. Witnesses stated inter alia, have seen an unidentified jeep coming from a farm between Ojén and Marbella exactly where the fire then got an awesome course. In Marbella, it was announced yesterday that it is now able to restore electricity, water and telephone networks in all affected areas. It is now under the companies just the kind of disruption that is "normal". In areas Elviria Ricmar has repaired water pipes, power lines and 3000 meters telephone and fiber optic cable. It has also been launched several campaigns to restore nature and conduct tree plantings. Biologists say that tree planting may be necessary until next year. The hotel chain Fuerte Hoteles has among other things promised to donate a tree for every hotel guest you have in Marbella. The hotels have also started a fundraiser where guests can help by buying a tree, which will then be planted in the affected area.

Marbella Forest Fire

Major wildfire in Malaga leaves elderly Briton dead and his wife missing

One person was confirmed dead and another missing on Friday night after a major wildfire Affected Municipalities of the Coin, Alhaurin el Grande, Mijas, Marbella and Ojén, in Málaga province. The victim is a British man aged 78 was found Whose charred body in the area of ​​Las Blanquillas, inside the city limits of Ojén. His wife has not yet been found. Meanwhile, a couple in late fifties was taken Their hospital with burns to 60 percent to of Their Bodies. Both lived in a detached home inside the Marbella residential estate of El Rosario. A mother and her two children were found hiding inside a cave in Ojén and taken to hospital to be Treated for smoke inhalation. Five other people Were Also Evacuated from Their Homes. The fire was Extending to the Sierra de las Nieves even as the chief of the firefighting department Málaga, Manuel Marmolejo, Announced That a new front had opened up and Reached the area of ​​Juanar, where two hotels had to be Evacuated. Marmolejo said Extending the wildfire was with "great virulence." The blaze Began around 6.50pm on Thursday and soon extended to a perimeter of Between 50 and 60 kilometers, said Marmolejo. An Estimated 1.000 hectares of land Have Been Affected.