The Catalan government has launched a pilot plan to permanently station Mossos d’Esquadra officers in 13 conflictive secondary schools to prevent youth violence. Interior councillor Núria Parlon defended the measure, but it has drawn widespread rejection from unions, families, directors, and students, who decry cuts to social educators. Only one union supports it.
Interior councillor Núria Parlon justified the Thursday deployment of plain-clothes, unarmed Mossos d’Esquadra agents in high schools, requested by the Education Department. "We believe it can be a very useful tool," Parlon said, emphasizing its pedagogical and mediation role to curb violence. The program will coordinate with school directors and could expand if the 13-institute pilot succeeds.
Unions like USTEC-STES called it "unacceptable" and likely to create a "feeling of surveillance and repression." Spokesperson Iolanda Segura demanded more resources to lower class sizes and hire social integrators or educational psychologists. Affac's Lidón Gasull criticized cuts from 420 to 300 social professionals—one per 1,000 vulnerable students—for a costlier police option.
Directors like Jordi Satorra (Axia) and expert Miquel Alegre (Equidad.org) advocated nurses and integration staff over police. Nationally, CEAPA and ANPE warned of stigmatization. Only ASPEC, via Ignasi Fernández, viewed it positively to reduce conflict, urging expulsion protocols.
Parties including ERC labeled it "right-wing populism," Comuns called for more mediators, CUP deemed it "absurd," and Junts "contradictory." Spain's Education Ministry declined comment, citing lack of details.
