The keys to a safe Fair: drones, cameras, and 700 police officers on the streets of Málaga every day

Safety is the foremost commandment to be observed for the August Fair in Málaga 2025 to be deemed a success. However, there are numerous fronts to attend to, and at times, in two venues simultaneously with massive crowds. Drones to monitor from above the crowded areas. 16 new surveillance cameras on the main avenues of Cortijo de Torres, plus the traditional ones in the Historic Center of the capital. Detectors to confiscate knives and sharp objects. Surveillance to prevent entry with glass bottles. The consumption of alcohol by minors. Drug trafficking, especially small-scale dealing. The condition of perishable foods consumed during these days. And speeding on the roads, to mention the planning of the most important measures.

And the control of explosives. Not just because of the nuisance that some pyrotechnic articles may cause. In Málaga, the anti-terrorism alert level (NAA) 4 is still active, which means an extra increase in security for these festivities. Starting Friday 15th, a Municipal Emergency Plan will be activated, remaining in place until the morning of August 25th. For this purpose, an Operational Coordination Center (CECOP) will be established in the municipal facilities. Civil Protection and ambulance services will also be essential.

The burden of the operation will once again fall on the three security forces, which will coordinate their different roles. The Ministry of Interior confirms that a total of 2,100 agents from the National Police and Civil Guard will be part of the deployment, with an average of about 200 agents on the streets daily. For its part, the Málaga City Council will require 457 personnel each day (one more local police officer than last year), with an average of ten services per officer each day and more than 40,000 hours of service. If these figures are respected, each fair date will necessitate the presence of nearly 700 officials from the three police bodies.

On Thursday morning, representatives from the Málaga City Council and the Government Subdelegation held a Local Security Board meeting to finalize the details of the planned coordination.

In addition to the 68 cameras in the center, this year 16 other units have been strategically placed in the Real, including taxi and bus stops where last year there were issues with queues to access transport during peak hours. These resources will be supplemented by the aerial surveillance system with drones, as has been done in celebrations with massive crowds such as Holy Week or Christmas, which will fly over the Cortijo de Torres area daily to capture images of any incident that may occur, as well as to provide support to units that may intervene in any public order disturbances or other situations that require it, according to a statement from the city council.

Special services will be available in the Youth area at different times, a focal point also for minors with alcohol regrettably taking center stage and the ever-present street drinking in such celebrations. Local police officers also have the mission to prevent the sale of unpermitted drinks to this young group in the booths of both venues. Last year, just on the first day, three establishments were shut down for this reason, with two-day penalties.

Control of the center

In the Center, moreover, the City Council warns that measures to prevent criminal activities and control of dangerous objects will be intensified, including those for access to prevent entry with glass bottles, reach bars for the dispensation of drinks for consumption on public roads, and other breaches of the Coexistence Ordinance. Closing times for establishments and the occupation of public roads by establishments on evacuation routes are also among the targets.

The response to the risk of crowding, also in the Real, plans as in previous editions to use physical barriers (concrete blocks and planters) to block them and prevent the passage of people.

The Civil Guard and its Nature Protection Service (Seprona) will have a special role along with the fishery inspection and the Food Health Service of the capital in monitoring the food that will be consumed during the festival days. The misnamed chanquetes, for example, which are banned and require control over the origin and sizes of the fish to be consumed. Transport of perishable goods will also be monitored.

Lastly, in terms of Traffic, the Armed Institute agents will control access to the city and the bypass roads. In addition to the aforementioned products related to food safety, another key issue will be the control of explosives and weapons as well as pyrotechnics. On days when alcohol consumption increases exponentially, surveillance on main roads will be reinforced with driving under the influence checks, and it is announced that radars will also operate to detect speeding. Traffic will also be on alert during the festive days as it is expected that there will be significant movement of vehicles on long and short journeys on the roads.