Mallorca police surrounded in Playa de Palma operation

Palma Local Police officers were surrounded, shouted at and cornered during an operation against illegal street selling in Playa de Palma, Mallorca, on 28 August, the Balearic Islands Retail Employers’ Federation, Afedeco, says.

The federation condemned what it called serious incidents and warned that rising tension in the street threatens community life and the rule of law. Afedeco president Joana Manresa said officers enforcing the law must not be hemmed in, abused or cornered.

Afedeco calls for lasting operations

Afedeco welcomed Palma City Council’s decision to launch the police operations, but said they must continue to prevent a repeat. The group said the incident was not isolated but reflected a structural problem that has been growing for years.

Manresa warned that illegal activity can create areas of impunity and sometimes gain social or political protection, driving further confrontation. She said firm but balanced action was needed to avoid increasingly radical positions on both sides.

Counterfeit supply networks in focus

The federation said its criticism was aimed not at people, but at the structures behind illegal street selling. Manresa pointed to mafias, the shadow economy and unfair competition.

Afedeco said legitimate shops meet tax, employment and other legal duties, while counterfeit goods sold on the street directly harm businesses operating within the rules. It also said the trade damages the image of key tourist destinations and the sense of safety in heavily used public spaces.

The group called on all administrations to combine continued police action with efforts to dismantle the networks supplying the goods. Social support, it said, should provide legal alternatives through dignified work and real integration.

Topics: Court cases · Police · Tourism · Politics · Economy · Palma

Source: Europa Press / Mallorca.com