Internal security at Sol encampment prevents police detention of robbery suspect
Members of the internal security team at the Puerta del Sol encampment blocked a plainclothes police officer who was pursuing an alleged thief. The suspect managed to escape amongst the tents.
Internal security prevents police pursuit at Sol
A plainclothes police officer pursuing an alleged thief in Madrid's Centro district was forced to withdraw on Sunday morning after being surrounded by members of the internal security service at the Puerta del Sol encampment, according to elmundo.es. The suspect managed to escape amongst the tents.
According to police sources, one of the internal security team members blocked the officer's path as he pursued the alleged thief. The police officer attempted to go round him to continue, at which point the encampment member shouted "police". Subsequently, around 20 people surrounded the officer, who then withdrew.
Internal surveillance structures
The encampment has organised its own surveillance and internal security mechanisms through two commissions outlined in internal protocols. The "mediation" commission performs oversight functions regarding compliance with regulations, processes possible expulsions and has sanctioning powers. Its responsibilities include organising shift rotations at entrances and forming cordons.
The "care" commission has a complementary function. It provides health and psychosocial support, as well as assistance for those who report having suffered an assault. According to its protocols, the person who was assaulted bears no responsibility for educating the assailant.
Previous sexual incident
The confrontation with the police officer was not the only security incident recorded on Sunday. Early in the morning, officers from the National Police detained a man accused of sexually assaulting a person sleeping in a tent. According to the police report, the man entered the tent and rubbed his genitals against the victim.
When the victim reproached him for his conduct, two young people camping there came to the victim's defence. The alleged assailant lunged at both of them and began striking them with punches. A patrol of plainclothes officers arrived after receiving an alert from the 091 Operations Centre.
Divergent accounts of the incident
The version in the police report differs from that released by the encampment dwellers in a statement. The protesters claimed that "the police came, spoke to the victim in front of him and left without taking him". According to their account, after the officers withdrew, the assailant re-entered the encampment and assaulted more people.
The encampment dwellers maintained that they had to expel the man "for a second time" and that following this episode a police deployment occurred that swept through the square. In their statement, the protesters concluded by asserting their system of internally organised support: "The police did not save us. We care for each other with the means we have".
Source: Google News ES — Crime (es)