Bilbao will strengthen security for Big Week, focusing on the prevention of any attack

Bilbaowill deploy a special security device for the Big Weekin coordination with the patrols of the Municipal Police and the Ertzaintza. Egunea will operate 24 hours, with special attention to the festive area, giving priority to the prevention of male assaults and hate crimes.

Uniformed and plainclothes agents will travel through the festive area hara to and fro, giving priority to areas where the largest number of people are concentrated, such as the Arenal, the Old Town, the Circular Square, the Volantín Field, the Erkoreka Square, the Park of Europe, the Abandoibarra, the Doña Casilda Park, the Moyua Square edo Etxebarria Park.

In these areas work will be done to prevent crimes and to act when they are committed . The most common at parties are theft . Last year, of the 562 complaints registered in Big Week, 72.6 (408) were theft, especially mobile and wallet theft.

Citizens who are victims of theft may file complaints "at the moment", as well as in the case of theft or other minor offences of damage, since the police officers carry the report of the complaint with them.

The security device will also affectthe prevention and action against sexist attacks . Therefore, both inside and outside the compound, additional agents will be placed in plainclothesto carry out preventive tasks and act immediately, video surveillance will be implemented as a passive measure and, where appropriate, all interinstitutional protocols will be implemented.

Last year , nine crimes against sexual freedom were reported, mainly for touches.  

   
On theother hand, with regard to road safety, preventive controls on alcohol and drug use  will be strengthened. In this regard, the Municipal Police have planned more than 40 checkpoints in different areas of the city, and the Ertzaintza will do the same at various points of access to the city.

On the other hand, the Municipal Police will also control the illegal street sale . According to data provided by the City Council, during Big Week 2024, 100 kilos of food were seized because they were being sold without any health control.

Lost and found objects

On the other hand, the Extraordinary Service of Lost Objects and Discoveries will be relaunched at the Municipal Police Inspectorate in the City Hall premises "to try to return as soon as possible objects that may be lost during the holidays".

This service, with face-to-face and telephone attention, will remain open 24 hours during Big Week, through which 330 items were received last year, mostly documentation, portfolios and mobile phones.

In addition, the City Council will allocate ambulances and health personnel to Abando, Doña Casilda Park, Europa Park and Abandoibarra concert areas and the Etxebarria Park fairground during barracks hours.

During the Big Week, the Bilbao Fire Service will provide an average of nine preventive and operational services per day to "prevent any emergency or risk situation" that may occur at events and venues at parties and barracks.

Inthe case of artistic fires , the event that brings together the largest number of people every day has planned a special prevention device from 21:00 on Esperanza Street, at the confluence of the streets Sendeja and Esperanza, in the square of Venezuela, in the basketball field of Mallona and in the river between the bridges of the Arenal and Zubizarreta.