Spain's Ministry of the Interior has published full security data for 2025. The document paints a mixed picture of the country's situation. While Catalonia recorded an almost three percent drop in the overall number of crimes, nationwide concern is raised by a nearly eight percent increase in murders and growing brutality in sexual crimes. A particularly difficult situation prevails in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, where a police remedial plan has been announced.

Increase in the most serious crimes

In Spain, the number of murders increased by 7.7%, and attempted murders by 5%, which draws opposition from police trade unions.

Catalonia records a decline

The region ended the year with a 2.9% decrease in crime, contributed to by a 4.2% reduction in thefts.

Crisis in L'Hospitalet

In Catalonia's second-largest metropolis, crime increased by 10.1%, forcing the implementation of a rescue plan.

Sexual violence

Despite slower growth dynamics, 21,659 reports of crimes against sexual freedom were recorded nationwide.

The latest report from the Ministry of the Interior for 2025 indicates a complex crime dynamic in Spain. Nationwide, a worrying increase in murders by 7.7% and sexual crimes, including rape with penetration by 2.8%, was recorded. The police union JUPOL warns that chronic juvenile delinquency and the phenomenon of so-called narcopisos „premises used for drug trafficking and consumption” in Madrid are becoming a problem. Furthermore, sextorsión, i.e., online sexual blackmail, is on the rise. The situation in Catalonia presents differently against the national backdrop – this region recorded a decrease in the overall number of crimes by 2.9%, reaching a total of 495,724 incidents. The most common offense remains thefts, the number of which fell by 4.2%. However, optimism does not prevail everywhere. The city of L'Hospitalet de Llobregat struggles with a 10.1% increase in crime, which forced the councilor for interior affairs, Núria Parlon, to announce a special rescue plan. Simultaneously, the Mossos d'Esquadra are investigating a brutal rape in Barcelona's Montjuïc gardens, which occurred in broad daylight. Spain has been grappling with security challenges in large metropolitan areas for years, linked to growing tourism and the professionalization of criminal groups trafficking marijuana in Catalonia. In other regions of the country, the situation is varied. In the Canary Islands, crime increased by 3.1%, with the number of murders doubling compared to 2024. In Cantabria, sexual crimes increased by 8.2%, mainly due to a higher number of assaults without penetration. These data show that despite a decrease in petty thefts in some metropolises, Spanish services must contend with increasingly dangerous categories of prohibited acts and growing activity by cybercriminals. Changes in Selected Crime Categories in Spain (2025 vs 2024): Murders and homicides: 7.7, Sexual crimes: 2.8, Bodily injuries: 7.2, Attempted murder: 5.0 10.1% — crime increase in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat Crime Statistics in Catalonia: 2024: 510530, 2025: 495724 Key Security Events in February 2026: 13 February, 12:00 — Rape in Montjuïc; 18 February — Narcolocal Shutdown; 19 February — Plan for L'Hospitalet; 20 February — Interior Report [{"aspekt": "Crime dynamics", "przed": "Stabilization", "po": "Increase by 10.1%"}, {"aspekt": "Number of narcolocales", "przed": "Growing presence", "po": "Closure of 26 points"}] Liberal media emphasize the overall drop in crime in Catalonia and the effectiveness of preventive actions in Barcelona. | Conservative media focus on the rise in murders, brutality of rapes, and the problem of uncontrolled juvenile delinquency.

Mentioned People

  • Núria Parlon — Councilor for interior affairs of Catalonia, announced a plan to combat crime in L'Hospitalet.