The National Police and the Local Police of Benidorm (Alicante) jointly developed a simulation to “close” the town. As part of this Operation Thunder protocol, both agencies coordinated to simulate a locking device or cage that could be used in the event of a crime in which the perpetrators intend to leave the municipality.
During this exercise, all strategic entry and exit points to Benidorm were cordoned off. In addition, “instructions for mobilizing troops, key names, call signs, and the measurement of response times” were put into practice, the police said in a statement.
To make the exercise as realistic as possible, the participating police officers were not informed in advance about its implementation. They therefore had to face an “unprepared situation.”
“The coordinated mobilization of resources was crucial to meeting the expectations of the headquarters of both police forces,” emphasizes the National Police.
The Director General of the Benidorm Local Police, Luis Martín Arévalo, described the exercise as “effective in a real situation” and emphasized that “the results are remarkable thanks to the excellent coordination between both authorities.”
