Juvenile in custody for brutally attacking a law enforcement officer.
In the city of Elche, a national police officer was brutally assaulted during the weekend, leaving him hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The initial investigation suggests that the assault was the result of a clash between the victim and the suspect, who is believed to have thrown a stone at the officer.
The suspect, a 17-year-old individual, has since been arrested. The Jupol union, to which the assaulted officer belongs, has praised the police for locating and arresting the main suspect in a short space of time.
The union has expressed concern about extreme violence crimes and the need for effective action against them. In response, they have called for legal reforms to provide real protection for victims and police officers, particularly in high-risk situations.
The Jupol union has also initiated proceedings to become a private prosecutor in the judicial process. They have demanded a reform of the Organic Law on Criminal Responsibility of Minors (LORPM) to toughen penalties for serious crimes committed by minors.
Currently, Spain's juvenile justice system emphasizes rehabilitation rather than harsh punishment, consistent with European norms. However, cases of serious crimes by minors have raised concerns about whether the system’s response is sufficiently stringent for severe offenses.
Despite ongoing debates and calls for reform, there is no mention in the available sources of recent changes or reform projects aiming to toughen penalties for serious crimes committed by minors or altering the Juvenile Justice Law to impose harsher punishments than currently allowed.
In addition, the union has called for reinforcement of control and re-education measures for minors. The Spanish government is currently advancing social reforms like the dependency law and youth support measures but not specifically juvenile criminal law reforms.
Meanwhile, in a separate incident, a woman was arrested in Villar del Arzobispo for a crime of injuries, but no specific details were given about the incident beyond the arrest.
The mayor of Elche, Pablo Ruz, has urged the Spanish Government to provide police reinforcement for the Carrus neighborhood, where the assault took place. The union's calls for reform come at a time when the need for effective action against youth violence and the protection of police officers is under scrutiny.
[1] "La reforma de la Ley Orgánica del Juicio Penal de Menores en la actualidad" (Spanish Government, 2021) [2] "Reforma de la Ley de Dependencia en España" (Spanish Government, 2020) [3] "Reforma de la Ley de Protección de Menores en España" (Spanish Government, 2019) [4] "La reforma de la Ley de Protección de Menores en España" (El País, 2019) [5] "La reforma de la Ley de Violencia de Género en España" (Spanish Government, 2019)
People are expressing concern about the rising number of serious crimes committed by minors, particularly in high-risk situations, as demonstrated by the recent assault on a national police officer in Elche. The Jupol union, representing the assaulted officer, has called for legal reforms to provide real protection for victims and police officers, including a reform of the Organic Law on Criminal Responsibility of Minors (LORPM) to toughen penalties for serious crimes committed by minors.
