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Court cases for illegal construction on undevelopable land have soared across the Region of Murcia, with the number of criminal proceedings more than doubling in the last twelve months. The Public Prosecutor’s Office has flagged what it calls “a spectacular increase” in these cases in 2024, with 116 proceedings for environmental planning crimes launched compared to just 52 in 2023.

 

The latest report from the Prosecutor’s Environmental and Urban Planning department attributes this rise to a “low level of criminal awareness” among offenders. Deputy Prosecutor Miguel de Mata says, “People continue to think that a fine is the only consequence for building without a licence. The reality is very different.” Most prosecutions target individual property owners rather than architects or technical staff, with those found guilty typically facing suspended prison sentences, conditional on demolishing the illegal structure.

 

Despite the increase in lawsuits, 93 new court cases now await resolution, enforcing demolition remains a major challenge. The Prosecutor’s Office points to ongoing delays, especially in the city of Murcia, where court-ordered demolitions get held up by demands for advance payments and complicated entry warrants requested by the council. These administrative obstacles often mean convicted builders ignore demolition orders, sometimes even risking annulment of their suspended sentences.

 

Cases span municipalities across the region, with complaints filed in Murcia, Santomera, Molina de Segura, Lorca, Águilas, Las Torres de Cotillas, Ceutí, and Lorquí. Murcia city council, in particular, leads in submitting files documenting illegal builds. A striking example was “Operation Microcement” in Águilas, where the Civil Guard uncovered an attempt to construct two homes on 390 square metres of land designated as non-developable.

 

The surge in illegal building is only one part of a wider trend. The Environmental Prosecutor’s office initiated 217 criminal investigations in 2024, up 63% from the previous year. Crimes relating to domestic animal abuse and land use planning now account for the majority of their convictions - 35 out of 42 sentencing decisions delivered last year were guilty verdicts.

 

While the prosecutor acknowledges that most cases relate to private individuals, the report gives a snapshot of broader trends in regional crime: the total of preliminary proceedings rose to 62,695 in 2024, an increase of 4.2%, bucking the trend in domestic violence and crimes against public administration, which saw declines.

 

With illegal developments sprouting up everywhere from mountainsides to old orchards, the prosecutor’s office is doubling down on its efforts, while warning that unless demolitions happen faster, the problem is far from being solved.

 

 

 

Image: Guardia Civil