Santa Cruz Police Unions Warn of Risks from New Low Emission Zone
Three unions representing Santa Cruz de Tenerife’s local police—UGT, CC.OO., and CSIF—have raised concerns about the introduction of a new Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in the city centre. They argue that this will have a “direct impact” on officers, potentially leading to a significant reduction in the number of police available for public safety and regular incident response. They warn that such changes could escalate public tensions, increase operational pressure, and pose psychological risks for officers.
The unions point out that the current proposal lacks clarity about who will manage essential tasks such as reviewing images, handling complaints, and overseeing the automated system. This ambiguity could inadvertently shift administrative duties onto local police, diverting officers from their primary roles in public safety.
In their formal objections to the municipal LEZ proposal, which has been initially approved by the City Council, the unions are calling for a suspension of proceedings until collective bargaining negotiations are completed.
They also highlight that the proposal fails to provide a detailed assessment of the impact the new responsibilities would have on the police workforce, including necessary staffing levels, equipment, specialised training, and budgeting to ensure effective implementation. Currently, there is no guarantee of increased staffing to manage these new duties without compromising routine services. Furthermore, the current guidelines allow officers to enforce access controls related to the LEZ, yet they have not received any training for these new functions.
