Firemen and locksmiths refuse to assist in evictions throughout Spain

FIREMEN and locksmiths are unwilling to evict people from their homes. President of the Locksmiths Union, David Ormaechea, said that  following several suicides, some locksmiths are no longer willing to carry out banks’ orders to evict people from their houses. ‘Families’ lives were being ruined and we were acting as executioners’ he added.

The Spanish government authorities and banks then turned to the fire service to step in and break open the doors of those resisting eviction. Firefighters said they come to the aid of people in emergencies, so it was against their role to help banks that are putting people’s lives in danger by evicting them, a representive of the Catalonia fire service said.

Spain has seen a huge amount of homeowners default on their rents or mortgage payments, prompting a wave of repossession by government-backed banks.

by SGL