Police awareness campaign last Summer

In what could honestly be a scene from a Carry On film as it is so absurd, a "pea-man" has put in a "denuncia" - which is an official complaint, against a member of the National Police for arresting him!
Last Summer the National Police spent a day handing out leaflets on the streets of Benidorm warning people about the scam.

Gang operating on Avd Mediterraneo

Earlier in the week, a "pea gang" were operating on the Levante front and a number of holiday makers got very distressed when they realised that they had been the victims of a scam. On noticing their state some of the local shop owners called the National Police. Obviously they have look-outs and disperse on seeing a police car approach. The look outs normally stand in the middle of the street at junctions and whistle when they see any signs of the police for the gangs to leave quickly. The police were given a good description and went in search - and found them not too far away.

Close up of them at work

 They attempted to search one of the women in the gang, who are used as bait to attract innocent passers-by and often end up pickpocketing whilst they are watching. The pea-man "objected" and had to be restrained on the floor by the police while they carried out the search.

The pea man has now denounced the police officer, stating that his rights had been violated and that the police had assaulted him!

National police deal with pea-men

The Police Union is giving legal support to the officer involved, but it seems almost a farcical situation were it not for the fact that it really is a serious problem in the town. According to the Police Union it has seriously impacted their ability to act against this type of illegal activity until a reform in the law is passed, which has to come from Madrid. It is evident that those who sit in their ivory towers in the capital haven´t the slightest notion of what is happening in the real world - and they obviously never come to Benidorm.


If you are here, especially over the Easter break DO NOT stop, as enticing as it seems with all the cheering and clapping. The majority of the so called spectators are actually members of the gang trying to lure you to stop and take part. They will wave a 20€ or even 50€ note saying they had just won and how easy it is. There is no such thing as a free lunch - you will possibly also loose your wallet in the process.

A protest rally that had been organised for Saturday, to highlight the lack of action being taken on such crimes has been postponed as a conflict has arisen between various members and associations taking part but we are assured that another date will be announced in the not too distant future.

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