Police chief stops cops from driving mafia cars
Spain's National Police chief is banning his officers from driving around in high-end vehicles seized from drug-traffickers in a bid to reduce maintenance costs and be more discreet.
Spanish National Police officers will no longer be able to ‘show off’ the sports cars and other top-of-the-range vehicles they’ve procured through drug busts and other heists.
From now on there will be no more two-seaters or lavish accessories such as wheel rims and spoilers, Police Chief Ignacio Cosidó announced as part of an internal ruling.
The only time officers will be able to drive around in luxury vehicles they had previously obtained through a judge’s authorization will be when a mission that requires them to ‘play the part’ requires it.
It’s a decision which contradicts that of officials at Spain’s Interior Ministry, who last July argued they had saved the Spanish taxpayer €400,000 (€539,000) by using four armoured mafia vehicles seized in a massive money laundering sting operation.
Cosidó claims the new regulations are all part of cutting costs at a time of economic hardship within the force and austerity cuts, despite the €1.1 million investment in riot gear his officers will benefit from shortly.
Spain’s National Police chief has even banned officers from calling the tow truck if one of their car wheels is punctured, arguing they will simply have to get their hands dirty and do it themselves when it does happen, Spanish online daily El Diario reported.
Comments
See Also
Spanish National Police officers will no longer be able to ‘show off’ the sports cars and other top-of-the-range vehicles they’ve procured through drug busts and other heists.
From now on there will be no more two-seaters or lavish accessories such as wheel rims and spoilers, Police Chief Ignacio Cosidó announced as part of an internal ruling.
The only time officers will be able to drive around in luxury vehicles they had previously obtained through a judge’s authorization will be when a mission that requires them to ‘play the part’ requires it.
It’s a decision which contradicts that of officials at Spain’s Interior Ministry, who last July argued they had saved the Spanish taxpayer €400,000 (€539,000) by using four armoured mafia vehicles seized in a massive money laundering sting operation.
Cosidó claims the new regulations are all part of cutting costs at a time of economic hardship within the force and austerity cuts, despite the €1.1 million investment in riot gear his officers will benefit from shortly.
Spain’s National Police chief has even banned officers from calling the tow truck if one of their car wheels is punctured, arguing they will simply have to get their hands dirty and do it themselves when it does happen, Spanish online daily El Diario reported.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.