Guardia Urbana de Barcelona

The Guardia Urbana de Barcelona is the municipal police force of Barcelona, Spain. Recent news articles highlight their involvement in the eviction of multiple informal settlements across the city. These actions are newsworthy due to the displacement of vulnerable populations and the ongoing housing crisis in Barcelona. Specifically, the Guardia Urbana recently evicted settlements near the Sagrera train station construction site, affecting 126 people, and another settlement under the Treball Digne bridge, also impacting 126 individuals. In both cases, a portion of those evicted accepted assistance from social services, while others chose to find alternative solutions independently. These evictions underscore the challenges of homelessness and inadequate housing in Barcelona, placing the Guardia Urbana at the center of a complex social issue.