A crack squad of armed police will safeguard holidaymakers in some of Spain's most popular sunshine resorts. The elite Spanish Guardia Civil GRS (Reserve and Security Group) will be stationed in Majorca for the summer as part of a wider plan to crackdown on crime and booze-fuelled bad behaviour.
Some of the 30-strong group will use binoculars to scan beaches from seafront hotel roofs to guarantee the safety of tourists in resorts such as Magaluf, Palma Nova and neighbouring Santa Ponsa, reports the UltimaHora . The unit, which normally handles drugs busts and major crime incidents, will also patrol the streets once the sun goes down with their presence used to deter anti-social and excessive behaviour.
Other officers will operate road blocks and track the movements of suspect vehicles. The squad is armed with Sig Sauer 553 assault rifles and Heckler & Koch USP Compact semi-automatic pistols, and use technology including a rapid database for tracking identities and number plates.
