The Ripoll City Council and the Local Police aim to reduce the speeding of vehicles circulating in the urban area following a rise in pedestrian accidents. Last year, there were six accidents, with five of the drivers being from outside the town. The head of the police, Francesc Campayo, explains, „The locals drive quite well, but around 90% of the offenders are from outside, especially tourists heading to Toses or Camprodon who drive at an excessive speed.“ To address this issue, they plan to install five speed cameras and a mobile radar at high-traffic points. Campayo emphasizes, „The driver won’t know where the camera is, so they will have to slow down.“ They have already started the feasibility study and hope to implement this system next year.
The idea is to move the radar based on traffic flow, with support from surveillance cameras at the police station. One advantage, according to Campayo, is that there will be no visible flash at night, unlike older systems. „The driver will be forced to reduce speed if they want to avoid a fine,“ he adds.
The measure aims to reduce speed in the urban area. Campayo states, „Studies show that higher speeds increase the risk of injury.“ He explains that 1 in 10 accidents involving vehicles traveling over 32 km/h are fatal, while at speeds over 48 km/h, the figure rises to 5 in 10, and over 63 km/h, 9 out of 10 accidents result in fatalities, according to statistics. Currently, the speed limit in urban areas is 30 km/h. „The people we report are driving nearly twice the limit,“ he points out. Last year, there were six accidents, and this year there have already been two, none fatal. „We need to calm traffic down,“ he emphasizes. Until the radar cameras are installed, random checks will continue in the city.
Another issue in Ripoll is incivility. „It’s a major concern,“ Campayo stated. Since the beginning of the year, 86 reports have been filed for violations of ordinances. Common cases include dog owners not using a leash or cleaning up after their pets, public defecation by dogs, and individuals drinking or urinating in public. Additionally, Campayo highlights the importance of citizen collaboration in addressing illegal home occupations to act swiftly. In 2023, there were four failed attempts, and this year there have been eight prevented incidents. Last year, there were five occupations and four evictions, while this year, there have been two occupations and two evictions.
Francesc Campayo, born in 1968, has been the head of the Ripoll Local Police since February 2022. He joined as a deputy inspector on secondment from the Mossos corps, where he was the Traffic sector head in Olot from late 2003 to early 2022. With a law degree and a diploma in public administration management, he began his career as a Local Police officer in Olot in 1989. Seven years later, he joined the Mossos d’Esquadra, serving in various units such as judicial police, forensics, public safety, investigation, and traffic. He is also a trained lawyer.
Since July, he has been promoted to inspector after passing selection tests with three other candidates. He will soon undergo training in Mollet. Ripoll now has an inspector leading the Local Police after a period without one. The previous inspector left for another assignment some years ago. Campayo is pleased and aims to stay in the region. „We work very well in Ripoll, and the community supports us, which is crucial,“ he emphasizes. The force currently consists of 18 officers, with one new recruit in August, and plans to have 19 officers next year. Women make up 30% of the force. „The average age is 42, and there is a lot of enthusiasm for work,“ he highlights. The introduction of drones for surveillance and license plate readers to catch offenders are some of the improvements implemented under Campayo’s leadership. „And we have more projects in the pipeline,“ he concludes.