MWC: Security Update

Barcelona, in general, is an extremely safe city with very low levels of crime. However, it is true that an event like the Mobile World Congress does attract petty crime, and this is what we’re tackling by putting in extra security measures. In 2008, only 1 percent of attendees, at most, were affected by crime.

The whole city has pulled together to tackle both perception and incidents in a way that is truly unprecedented for an event in Barcelona.

Extra security measures for 2009 include:

Venue security improvements

• Improved visibility of police stations. There will be two police stations onsite in 2009 compared with one in 2008

• Improved security signage plan with banners pointing to the police station from main areas

• The entire site will have CCTV

• Increase on the number of police presence inside the venue

• Extra police presence in the morning of the first day of the event during registration

• Access security will be greatly enhanced onsite. Registration upgrades and an improved pass blacklisting system for lost and stolen passes will also help tighten up substantially.
  
  Offsite security improvements
  

• Implementation of a 24 hour security hotline for attendees of the Congress affected by crime in the city (not just in the Fira venue)

• Increase in number of police officers outside the venue

• Increase in police presence around the venue in Plaza Espanya and Rius i Taulet street

• Visible police presence in other locations around the city such as Avda Paral.lel, Plaza Cataluña and Las Ramblas

• Reinforcement of police inside the metro at Plaza Espanya with special attention to the opening and closing hours of the event each day.