The death of a person during a robbery attempt has reactivated the alarm in the Barcelona neighborhood of Sant Antoni. The merchants' association Sant Antoni Comerç demands immediate measures given what it considers a security and coexistence crisis without recent precedents.
Jordi Arias, president of the entity that groups 261 establishments, claims the implementation of fixed patrols twenty-four hours a day on the Ronda de Sant Pau. He also requests a constant police presence on streets such as Aldana, Marquès de Campo Sagrado, and Parlament, in the section between the ronda and Carrer del Comte Borrell.
Night trade paralyzes its activity out of fear
The tension in the lower part of the neighborhood directly affects the economic viability of businesses. Many restaurateurs have stopped opening at night because they do not feel safe, according to the head of the merchants' association.
The perception of insecurity skyrockets from eight in the evening. The warnings arrive almost daily at the entity's office, which observes how the situation has become chronic and worsened in recent months.
"When the Urban Police patrol is here, there are no criminal acts, but once they leave it gets out of control" - Jordi Arias, president of Sant Antoni Comerç
This dynamic has led some owners to consider the definitive closure or relocation of their premises. The impossibility of working normally forces them to consider drastic alternatives to maintain business activity.
A thousand complaints against irregular street vending
Municipal authorities activated the Sant Antoni Shock Plan in August 2025. This strategy includes monthly meetings with neighborhood associations to monitor security, mobility, and cleaning problems in public spaces.
A joint device of the Ciutat Vella and Eixample districts has been operating since the end of that same year against street vending. The actions are concentrated on Sant Pau, Cera and Parlament streets and have generated nearly 1,000 complaints in addition to the seizure of material.
The City Council's data records 31 demands related to homeless people since the plan's implementation. These cases are referred to Social Services and, on many occasions, to specialized mental health teams.
Sant Antoni Comerç urges to reinforce social care resources to address the underlying causes of conflict. The entity emphasizes the need to guarantee public health, neighborhood rest, and commercial continuity while improving coexistence.