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Crime in Catalonia Falls to Lowest Levels Since 2012 as Barcelona Fear Persists

Persistent fears in poorly lit areas have prompted Barcelona authorities to invest in street-lighting improvements bolstered by stepped-up patrols

Overview

  • Official data show a 6% drop in crime in Catalonia and a 2.8% fall nationwide in Q1 2025, sending conventional offences to their lowest rate since 2011–12.
  • A 2025 victimization survey found that 51.4% of Barcelona residents feel unsafe, with 52.4% reporting fear in poorly lit spaces and 63% of women affected.
  • Only one in five completed or attempted crimes in Barcelona is formally reported, largely because victims doubt police efficacy, fear procedural complications and mistrust the justice system.
  • Despite the overall decline, consummated homicides in Catalonia fell by nearly 17% in Q1 2025 while attempted homicides rose 11%, and both cybercrime and sexual offences have trended upward as victim reporting increases.
  • In response to lingering insecurity, the Ayuntamiento de Barcelona has rolled out targeted street-lighting upgrades and expanded Mossos d’Esquadra patrols in high-concern areas.