The situation that the agents of the National Police destined in The IronFuerteventura and Lanzarote to attend to the arrival of immigrants is already unsustainable. And this is what the police union has denounced Jupolwho attributes this situation to the lack of foresight, planning and means on the part of the Home Office in the face of the migration crisis in Canary Islands.
From this union, they point out that the troops chain working days of between 16, 18 and even 20 hours with precarious breaks and food. Furthermore, they criticize the fact that the service is provided without charging subsistence allowance nor economic rewards similar to those received by agents posted to Ceuta. Faced with this scenario, the agents assure that “it is a real shame that the Government intends to sustain an immigration crisis at the cost of physically and professionally destroying the police.”
The current operation involves constant maritime transfers between El Hierro and Tenerife in which it moves at between 500 and 600 immigrants each way, forcing officials to get up at four in the morning after having stayed at midnight. Jupol calls it irresponsible that on some boats with nearly 200 passengers, only six national police officers travel sharing space with those transported, which raises doubts about the security and responsiveness.
Without enough rest or resources
In this sense, the agents denounce that “it is unacceptable that Inside intends to normalize marathon days, without sufficient rest, without diets and without minimum conditions of dignity for the police. Agents are not machines or unlimited resources at the disposal of a Administration unable to manage a crisis that has been known for years.
Faced with this situation, Jupol demands from the ministry it directs Fernando Grande-Marlaska already General Directorate of Police an urgent increase in the workforce in El Hierro, rational work shifts, full payment of the corresponding allowances and transfers with guarantees of security and adequate maintenance. Likewise, it calls for agreeing readmission agreements with the countries of origin and transit analogous to the one in force with France to avoid a call effect that affects Ceuta, Melilla and the rest of the borders, in addition to a reform of the Immigration Law.
The union emphasizes that “solidarity and commitment of the national police with their work are beyond any doubt. What we are not going to accept is that this commitment be used as an excuse to justify the incompetence of those who have the obligation to manage this crisis. It cannot be that the Government’s solution is to send six police officers to carry out endless days, without sufficient means, without diets and in unworthy conditions”.
And he concludes: “Enough of squeezing the police to cover up the lack of management of the Home Office. Agents cannot continue paying with their healththeir rest and their dignity the consequences of a crisis that political leaders have been unable to resolve for years. We demand immediate solutions and responsibilities”.