Cort begins evicting the 200 residents of the former prison, forcing them to live on the streets.

PalmThe Palma City Council has begun the eviction process offormer Palma prison And next week, the nearly 200 people who live there will be evicted. This was announced by the First Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Tourism, Culture, Sports, and Municipal Coordination, Javier Bonet. Starting this Wednesday at 7:00 a.m. and continuing until Friday, the Police Local authorities, in conjunction with social services, will begin monitoring access to the facilities to identify its residents and compile an updated census. Anyone who fails to identify themselves at the access checkpoint will not be listed as a resident of the former prison and, starting Friday, will not be allowed to re-enter. On February 27, those previously identified will be notified that they must vacate the premises and will be given five days to submit any objections. Once the objection period ends, they will be given four days to leave the premises. "In the event of resistance, we will seek authorization from the courts," Bonet emphasized.

The councilor has stated that the Palma City Council (Cort) has offered the municipal social services portfolio to residents to help them find alternative housing. However, he emphasized that there is "a large number of residents who cannot access these services in any way because they are undocumented." He thus passed the responsibility to the Spanish government delegation, which, he asserted, "has full jurisdiction over the 60 percent of people who are undocumented." Furthermore, Bonet added that "only one 18-year-old has accepted the services offered." However, he announced that "for those who do not wish to use the social services portfolio, the Palma City Council will appeal to the Bishopric, the Port Authority, and the army to provide them with temporary housing." He cautioned, however, that the Mallorcan Institute of Social Affairs is "overcrowded and currently has no available rooms."

Cort has made this decision after four fires broke out inside the old prison this past weekend. Firefighters had to intervene in one of them and rescued four people. "This is no longer an isolated incident; it's happening very frequently, leading us to believe that the fires may be being started by the occupants," Bonet explained. He added that "the increase in conflict in the area has reinforced the need for urgent intervention." Once the building has been vacated, the City Council will clean it and brick up its entrances "to prevent reoccupation," and the demolition of the facilities will be put out to tender. Bonet also stated that the profile of the residents of the old prison has changed "radically" in recent years. "Before, they might have been people who didn't want conflict, but now some are looking for easy trouble." Police actions

Bonet emphasized that since the Popular Party took office in Palma City Council, the actions of the Local Police, the National Police, and the Fire Department have increased. He even stated that of the 243 actions carried out by the Local Police since 2023, "143 exceeded their jurisdiction."