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Although demolition of the old Guardia Civil barracks in Cartagena began several weeks ago, on August 27, as many as 70 officers continue to work in the condemned building while alternative premises are located. Moreover, when the bulldozers moved in to pull down the exterior walls, several families were still living inside the military facilities.

 

The Unified Association of the Guardia Civil (AUGC) has reportedly asked the government on many occasions to halt demolition until all of the staff have been temporarily relocated to the Antonio Arévalo school, but for now, various services continue to operate from the building site. In different shifts, the 70 officers working in citizen security, canine guides, judicial police, technical crimes, agricultural thefts, gender violence and more have no option but to carry on with business as usual.

 

Before the project began, the Cartagena City Council adapted local offices to accommodate the Traffic service of the Guardia Civil, but modifications haven’t even started on the school. At the time of the first move, an AUGC spokesperson criticised the government’s lack of planning and described the new Security Park facilities as “scant, but sufficient.”

 

The old barracks is being torn down as it was at risk of collapse and the new structure will be built on the same site, at Ángel Bruna, at a cost of 31,956,070 euros. The work should be completed in around 30 months and the final product will have two different spaces: one to house officers and their families and another for the offices, in addition to a student residence.

 

 

Images: Ayuntamiento de Cartagena