British expats in Benidorm to lead crime protest

BRITISH people now living in the popular Costa Blanca destination of Benidorm are leading a protest against crime in the area on Monday November 23.

Reports of pickpockets and muggers in the town are ruining the reputation of the area according to the leaders of the protest. 

A new petition is being handed in at the town hall after the protest in order to convince Mayor Toni Perez to do more to protect visiting tourists.

The expats want authorities to clamp down on gangs of pickpockets and con artists who they say continue to affect the area. They are calling for the gangs to be banned entirely as the fines which some members receive have not been successful in keeping them off the streets.

Benidorm had five million visitors in the first six months of the year and the area is as popular as ever with British tourists.

Karen Cowles, an expat and one of the protest’s organisers, said,  “Benidorm is a beautiful place and we don’t want it to be destroyed by muggings, pickpockets, violent bouncers and prostitutes in our residential areas.”

“We all love Benidorm and want to protect its image. We need people to return and feel safe and not be too scared to come back,” she added.

In a similar scheme that saw British bobbies beefing up security in Mallorca and Ibiza this year, police from the UK are reported to be coming to Benidorm to help local forces for the summer season.