In a bid to promote safety and warn holiday makers of dangers on the beach, which includes the peddlers selling their wears, the town hall are putting up signs along the front. They are also planning on printing 2,000 leaflets to hand out but it is unclear where they will be available or who will be handing them out. I can only imagine they will be at the Tourist Information centres and at hotels. Although the sentiment is there, is anyone actually going to read the sign as the writing is so small you really need to get up fairly close.

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Some will see it as justice and a long overdue – two of the illegal cocktail sellers, or as they say here ‘mojiteros’ have been jailed following last Friday’s confrontation on the Levante promenade. During a routine patrol the local police apprehended one of the touts and a heated exchange took place, which escalated very quickly. Within a matter of minutes over 20 vendors appeared and started throwing punches at the police, who had to use their taser guns to bring them under control. One of the police needed medical attention and three of the vendors were taken to hospital – two of which were released then taken straight into police custody. Yesterday they appeared in court where the judge ordered a father and son to be sent to prison. However, all is not quite as it seems for they were not imprisoned for selling the illegal cocktails but for assaulting the police.

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The sun is shining and the popular Levante beach is bustling with British holidaymakers over the extended UK May bank holiday weekend. Sadly this means that the ‘mojiteros’ – or illegal cocktail sellers are also out in force and doing an exceptionally brisk trade today. Over a one-hour period this afternoon I managed to spot numerous men touting their toxic wares up and down the beach, with unfortunately many takers! One young lady, laying on her sunbed with luggage nearby was obviously enjoying her last few hours, clutching a plastic tumbler - half empty.

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The Mayor of Benidorm, Toni Perez is proposing to authorize bars along Levante beach to sell drinks on the beach in an attempt to eradicate the illegal cocktail sellers. Since the beginning of June there have apparently been undercover police posing as holidaymakers in an attempt to catch the perpetrators in the act. But all they do is confiscate the drinks and issue a fine – which in reality both know will not be paid. As tempting as they look - do not buy them - ever. They are prepared in the most dirty unhygenic conditions, on the floor and in doorways.

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The big headline in the local Spanish press today declares police reinforcements from France and Portugal will be arriving in Benidorm to help back up the local force over the peak summer period. That all sounds great… logistically how it will work is another matter. What language will they speak to each other for instance and obviously they will have no legal authority therefore need to be accompanied by Spanish officers at all times. But read further down and it’s not quite so dramatic – there will in fact only be 2 French officers and 2 Portuguese, dressed in their countries uniform and unsurprisingly, no British bobbies.

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Summer has most certainly arrived – the sun is out, the resort is bustling and the beaches are packed. But just because you’re on holiday and relaxed do not let your guard down. Sadly crime happens everywhere and Benidorm is no exception, but if you use your common sense and keep your wits about you, then you should have an incident free time here.
The Latin saying ‘praemontius, praemunitus’ is very apt and loosely translated means ‘forewarned is forearmed’… if you know about a problem in advance, you will be able to deal with it. Awareness of a situation, especially a risky one prepares you to handle it should the situation arise.

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