Barcelona City Council increases fines for graffiti, public drinking & urination

Barcelona City Council, now led by socialist (PSC) mayor Jaume Collboni, is increasing the fines for graffiti, as well as drinking or urinating in public from this Friday.

The move is part of the city council’s new Pla Endreça (‘Tidy-up Plan’), which aims to improve perceptions of cleanliness and insecurity and promote civic values.

With an overall aim of restoring order and cleanliness to the city, the plan involves reinforcing and expanding maintenance and cleaning services, ensuring proper use of public facilities and shared responsibility, and combating anti-social behaviour with authority and heavier fines.

According to recent municipal surveys, insecurity and dirtiness are two of the main concerns of Barcelona residents.

‘The Pla Endreça entails limiting invasive activities in public spaces,’ the deputy mayor and councillor for security and co-existence Albert Batlle said.

Fines will be increasing by 55% on average. Public urination, previously €200, will become €300, while graffiti is now €500 to €600 depending on the premises vandalised. Drinking alcohol on the street could previously incur fines of between €300 and €600. Those found drinking in public from Friday will automatically be fined €600.

‘We think we will be able to see the results of this measure in the coming weeks,’ Batlle said.

Weekly cleaning inspections will be increased in the city from 600 to 1,800, with the aim of ensuring that all contracted cleaning services are carried out properly.

The new council is promising more intensive cleaning of parks, plazas and green areas, more cleaning of the shoreline and the beaches, as well as an increase in the number of streets that are cleaned with water.

👮‍♀️👮 Durant el cap de setmana farem presència policial als espais més rellevants de la ciutat amb l'objectiu de vetllar per la seguretat i evitar conductes que puguin alterar el descans veïnal i degradar l'espai urbà.

🔇 Gaudiu de l'estiu amb respecte #PlaEndreça pic.twitter.com/BIa3OhGdis
— Guàrdia Urbana Barcelona (@GUBBarcelona) August 12, 2023

Tripliquem les inspeccions dels serveis de neteja i reforcem els equips que hi ha als barris per atendre les peticions ciutadanes. Ajuda’ns i comunica les incidències que trobis a l’espai públic al 010, al web i a l’app BCN a la butxaca.

Anem per feina! #PlaEndreça pic.twitter.com/fJEaDXW6ub
— Ajuntament de BCN (@bcn_ajuntament) August 13, 2023