LOCAL NEWS – MONDAY 20 FEBRUARY 2012

WILL EDUCATING VICTIMS NOT INCREASING PENALTIES REDUCE CRIME?

In a joint analysis between the Universidad Miguel Hernández and the Ayuntamiento de Elche to try to find a solution to prevent crime, a survey of street gangs has resulted in the notion that it is more important to “educate society and the victim, rather than increasing the penalties for offenders to reduce crime”. There was also a serious lack of knowledge and education regarding more modern crimes such as those which take place on the internet and the virtual world.

The study has been carried out over the last seven years and featured interviews and monitoring of around 800 young people, lawyers, psychologists, criminologists, and police investigators are part of the Centro Crímina team, under the guidance of Fernando Miró, Professor of Criminal Law at the University and a Judge of the Provincial Court of Alicante.

OLD ROAD CRASH BRIT CAUGHT BY COPS

The Local Police of San Miguel de Salinas have arrested a 44 year old British man, who has the initials SPQ, for his alleged involvement in a road traffic accident in 2007.

The arrest was made possible by the increased collaboration with the local neighbourhood watch groups and the police, who found the man after he was reportedly sleeping in unauthorised buildings in the town.

WOMAN SUFFERS SERIOUS BURNS AT HOME

A 55 year old woman was admitted to the burns unit of Alicante Hospital after suffering an accident with a wood burning fire at her home in Catral this weekend.

The victim tried to light the fire by spraying the wood with alcohol, causing a blaze that resulted in serious burns to her face, chest, side and arm of first, second and third degree.

ROJALES TO WELCOME HOTELS

The town hall of Rojales has amended their general plan, which will now allow for the building of hotels on land in the municipality.

The aim of the plan is to diversify the availability of land to try to encourage tourism for those who want a break away from the sea and would prefer to holiday inland. Developers will also now be able to build higher properties than previously allowed.

ELCHE GETS GRANT FOR FOREIGNERS

The Valencian Federation of Municipalities and Provinces has awarded the City of Elche a grant of 234,071 euro to allow development schemes for the better integration of foreigners into the Spanish lifestyle.

The award was announced by the councillor for social action, Antonio Luis Martínez Pujalte, and will be used to develop policies for reception and integration of immigrants and to enhance educational efforts for foreign nationals.