Following the mass arrival of migrants from Morocco to the Spanish exclave of Ceuta, on 30 and 31 July, most of whom have since been returned to Morocco, the government reinforced its security operation in the autonomous city by deploying various National Police units, including the Police Intervention Units (UIP).
Weeks later, several of the officers sent to Ceuta have voiced their dissatisfaction with the accommodation conditions they are facing during their stay in the city.
According to accounts given by the officers themselves to the daily ‘El Faro de Ceuta’, and also reported by the Spanish Confederation of Police (CEP), the facilities of the Mixed Artillery Regiment No. 30, where part of the officers deployed to Ceuta are being housed, show shortcomings affecting both hygiene and rest.
According to the officers’ testimonies, the accommodation is overcrowded, with too few toilets, poorly maintained showers, ventilation problems and worn-out mattresses, conditions that are making daily life difficult for those deployed to the city.
In a post on social media X, the Spanish Confederation of Police (CEP) said on the ‘Onda Madrid’ radio station, “It is outrageous. Every time there is a crisis Marlaska calls on the police. He knows we are a guarantee of success. But then, as in Ceuta, he punishes us with degrading accommodation that looks like a chamber of horrors.”
Overcrowding, heat and a lack of toilets
The officers deployed are reportedly housed in units fitted with eight bunk beds, meaning that seven or eight officers may share a single room, significantly reducing the space available to each officer.
On top of these conditions, officers have complained about the lack of air conditioning in the rooms, in which there is reportedly only one fan for the entire room. This is particularly problematic during the summer months, when the high temperatures in Ceuta make it even harder for officers to get enough rest.
Among the main complaints raised by the officers is the lack of sufficient sanitary facilities. According to information received by the CEP, around 70 officers may be sharing a single toilet on one of the floors of the barracks, a situation which the union considers incompatible with proper hygiene and rest conditions.
In another post on X, commenting for ‘Onda Cero’ radio, the CEP said, “Colleagues are going to give their all in Ceuta because they are professionals and they know what is at stake there for Spain. Meanwhile, Marlaska punishes them with degrading accommodation, in conditions that would force any minister to resign.”
A single bathroom for dozens of officers
Added to this are deficiencies in the showers and ventilation problems in the areas where the officers are being housed. However, the officers make it clear that their criticism is not directed at the military personnel responsible for the facilities.
In fact, the officers themselves highlight the army’s willingness to meet their needs within the resources available and speak positively about the treatment they have received during their stay at the barracks.
“We have been treated very well. Top marks to them, but the conditions are what they are and all they have available,” the officers say, drawing a distinction between the care and treatment provided by the military personnel and the limitations of the facilities used to house them.
The CEP demands a review of accommodation conditions
In response to the complaints lodged by officers, the CEP has formally requested an urgent preventive inspection to assess, on the ground, the conditions in which police officers deployed to Ceuta are being housed.
The union is specifically calling for a dedicated risk assessment of these facilities to determine whether they meet the necessary safety and health requirements for staff.
As part of this review, the organisation proposes measuring temperature, humidity and ventilation, as well as assessing the conditions of the areas designated for officers to rest.
The CEP insists on the need to objectively verify the shortcomings highlighted by the officers and, if they are confirmed, to apply the necessary corrective measures to guarantee adequate conditions during their time in the city.
The CEP calls for immediate solutions for deployed officers
The CEP is calling for immediate action on the facilities, including upgrading toilets and showers and replacing mattresses that are in poor condition. The union also argues that if the barracks do not meet the required standards, alternative accommodation should be found to ensure decent conditions for the officers deployed.
The organisation stresses that rest and hygiene are particularly important in long deployments, especially when officers have to carry out duties aimed at reinforcing security in the city.
The complaints have already been formally submitted and the CEP expects measures to be taken as soon as possible to remedy the shortcomings and resolve the situation.