The Santa Cruz Council has approved a motion calling on the Spanish Government to implement legal measures that would allow for the eviction of illegal squatters, known as okupas, within 24 hours.
The proposal, put forward by the People's Party (PP), was passed despite opposition from the Socialist Party (PSOE).
The motion also urges the creation of specialised courts to deal specifically with cases of illegal occupation and inquiocupación, a term used by the city’s mayor to describe people who break into and occupy vacant homes, often disrupting community life, as has recently been the case in the El Toscal neighbourhood of the city.
The debate was highlighted by the testimony of local resident Carlos Jiménez, who described the fear and instability caused after two properties in El Toscal were taken over. “These are criminals who have threatened people with knives, robbed the elderly, women and children, and created an atmosphere of fear never seen before in the neighbourhood,” he said. “What’s worse is that the law protects these delinquent squatters until something truly tragic happens due to inaction.”
PP spokesperson Carlos Tarife defended the motion, arguing that both the National Police and judges need better tools to carry out swift evictions so that property owners can quickly reclaim their homes. Socialist councillor Elena Mateo criticised the proposal for not addressing similar situations in other parts of the city, such as El Tablero and Añaza.
Mayor José Manuel Bermúdez weighed in to clarify the need for nuance in applying these measures. “We must distinguish between someone who kicks down a door with a knife in hand to terrorise a neighbourhood, and a family with children who find themselves in a vulnerable situation,” he said.
The motion reflects growing public concern in Santa Cruz over illegal occupation, particularly in densely populated neighbourhoods where residents have reported increased fear and a decline in quality of life. If granted in Santa Cruz it is only a matter of time before other municipalities adopt the same process.
