Armed police have been brought in to patrol Magaluf as authorities crack down on badly behaved Brits on holiday.
A massive crackdown has been launched as bosses in the Balearics try to avoid the return of “disgraceful” scenes of two summers ago involving drunken louts, fights and “lurking” prostitutes.
The hotspot areas of Magaluf, including the famous Punta Ballena strip, were closed down last year after the authorities said they were fed up with its tarnished reputation and the dangers involved with Covid.
This week, the first Brits arrived back in the resort after it was added to the green list – but extra police patrols were waiting last night to make sure nothing got out of hand.
They included armed police brought in from Madrid. Cars were searched for drugs and for alcohol to prevent any plans for street bottle parties, popular in Spain.
(Image: Marcin Nowak/LNP)
Island newspaper Ultimahora.es says tourists are no longer exclusively British, with French, Italian and Spanish holidaymakers also choosing the resort for their first get-away. The averag age was around 20.
One British student, a man dressed as a woman for a stag night, told them: “It has been a year to forget, we deserve a little party.”
Some nightlife venues are still closed and there are still restrictions in pubs and restaurants, with a 2am closing time. Taking glasses out to drink in the street is banned under the new behaviour rules and beaches have to be cleared at midnight. The strip used to stay open until 5am which created scenes of early morning drunks and fights.
Police are calculating about 2,500 tourists at the busiest time, compared with the 12,000 when Magaluf was at its height. A spokesman told the Spanish press that it was “a relatively quiet night.”
(Image: Marcin Nowak/LNP)
Radio Calvia FM said on its site: “The first British tourists have already begun to arrive in Calvia destinations such as Santa Ponça, Palmanova and Magaluf.”
Calvia council says it is no longer prepared to accept “tourism of excesses” and Magaluf has to change its image.
The new “Magaluf Waterfront” association says the resort should be seen as a “privileged environment” and a place where people can enjoy a good day out on the beach and excellent cuisine.
Calvia has also become the first place in Mallorca to process its own fines for anti-social behaviour or coronavirus breaches instead of the Balearic government.
(Image: Marcin Nowak/LNP)
This, say officials, will speed up the process so that people will have to pay up quicker and “act as a deterrent” to others.
“Co-ordination between the Civil Guard and the Local Police of Calvià is essential, both on land and on the coast to avoid party boats,” said a spokesperson.
“Calvia council is working on this line and has requested special collaboration from the Maritime Service of the Civil Guard and the General Directorate of Emergencies of the Government of the Balearic Islands.”
And the mayor of Calvià, Alfonso Rodríguez Badal stressed: “Our police and the Civil Guard will be prepared and coordinated so that Calvià continues to be a safe tourist destination.
“Here we will be vigilant with the fulfillment of the norm against the tourism of excesses ”.
Government delegate, Aina Calvo added: “It is vitally important to coordinate all the staff to ensure that the recovery of tourism activity – and therefore of the economy – takes place safely.
“We need to recognise the great joint work of the Civil Guard, the Local Police and the inspection staff to fulfill this objective “.