Civil Guard investigates anti-domestic violence wristband fraud: Equality Ministry failed to carry out monitoring
The Civil Guard compiles reports on the Equality Ministry's non-compliance with oversight of the telematic devices. The National Audit Office warned of an absence of documented follow-up meetings during the initial months of the contract.
Civil Guard investigation into anti-domestic violence wristbands
The Central Operational Unit (UCO) of the Civil Guard has gathered documentation from the National Audit Office relating to an alleged fraud involving anti-domestic violence wristbands being investigated at the instigation of the European Public Prosecutor's Office. According to ABC, the public fiscal body warned that the Equality Ministry failed to hold periodic follow-up meetings with the company supplying the telematic devices during contract execution.
The National Audit Office carried out a comprehensive review of the procurement procedure. The tender specifications provided for holding at least one follow-up meeting every four months, but there is no documented record of any meetings between the General Directorate for Gender-Based Violence (DGVG) and the contractor in February and March 2024, when service execution began.
In April 2024 there is a document concerning a technical presentation by the company, but no other documented meeting is recorded until the half-yearly report from September 2024. The National Audit Office warned that during the first seven or eight months of the contract, the service lacked a documented and periodic monitoring mechanism. This shortfall occurred already under the tenure of Ana Redondo at the ministry, who replaced Irene Montero.
Operational problems without solution
At the October 2024 meeting a real risk of "stock outage" of devices was identified. The company undertook to reduce the wristbands undergoing review to 800 units, a commitment that was not fulfilled. Delays in device repair and replacement meant this issue was addressed repeatedly in meetings, without commitments to improvement translating into effective results.
The DGVG claimed that a follow-up meeting took place in April 2024, but the National Audit Office clarified that this was merely a technical presentation. Victoria Rosell, former Government Delegate against Gender-Based Violence, defended in her written response of 29 June that annual reports from 2021 and 2022 existed that documented the monitoring, as well as seven notes and minutes from meetings of the Monitoring Commission.
Investment amount and achievement of objectives
To finance the purchase of 30,000 anti-domestic violence wristbands, 4.6 million euros from European funds were allocated. The award was made at the end of 2023 to the temporary joint venture formed by Vodafone and Securitas within a broader procurement process totalling 42.6 million euros including taxes (35.2 million excluding VAT).
Achievement of the objective of 30,000 devices was "in progress" with 22,800 wristbands operational since 2009. The European Public Prosecutor's Office is now seeking to clarify whether the technical specifications were met to receive these EU funds, a matter on which the National Audit Office had expressed reservations.
Irene Montero, minister at the time of the contract award, shared in her written response the arguments made by Rosell, stating that the ministry and the DGVG fulfilled all monitoring and oversight tasks that represented "the heart of the legislature" during their tenure.
Source: ABC