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Murcia sets new safety rules for Policía Local equipment
Decree allows Tasers, long guns and defibrillators in updated kit for officers
Policía Local forces across the Region of Murcia are set for a major update in the tools and equipment they can use on duty. A new regional decree regulating technical resources for the Policía Local will shortly be published on the Transparency Portal, opening a 30 day public consultation before final approval.Regional minister and spokesperson Marcos Ortuño explained that “this is the first time the Region of Murcia will have regulations of this kind, a document that will clearly govern all the resources officers can use to deal with the various situations they encounter on a daily basis.” The draft has been drawn up with input from the Federation of Municipalities, police chiefs, unions and local Ayuntamientos.
The text sets out the basic personal kit that every Policía Local officer must have, and adds a long list of optional resources that town halls will be able to provide. Alongside the standard handgun, officers in specialised public safety units will be allowed to use long guns in municipalities where such units exist. Councils may also authorise “electrical control devices” such as Tasers or JPX stun guns, which must have at least a 4 metre range and record the date, time and number of discharges.
Other items that can be added include personal defence sprays, extendable batons, body cameras, tactical vests, cable ties, riot and ballistic shields, restraint shields, helmets, body armour, multi tools, emergency tourniquets and protective eyewear. However, Ortuño stressed that providing this kind of gear will require each Ayuntamiento to approve its own protocol on the use of force.The decree also specifies what police vehicles should carry. At least 50% of patrol vehicles in service will need to be fitted with a defibrillator, and councils may also equip them with digital or video cameras, jumper cables, bolt cutters, sledgehammers, water rescue buoys and ropes, measuring tapes and pollution masks. For inspection and control work, officers may use equipment such as sound level meters, breathalysers, speed cameras, gas detectors, image capture devices, metal detectors, microchip readers for pets, drones and drug detection tools.
Uniforms will see a small change too. The arm badge on the left sleeve of outer garments will be trapezoidal, with “Region of Murcia” in white at the top, “Local Police” at the bottom and the regional symbol in the centre.
Ortuño said the ultimate goal is that “the Local Police are able to use the appropriate resources in each risk situation.” Once the public comment period closes, the regional government will analyse suggestions and seek further reports before the decree is formally adopted, as part of its wider “Safer Region of Murcia” strategy with a budget of 120 million euros.
Image: CARM and wikicommons
