Last Monday, the image of the Virgen del Carmen by Jesús de Perceval was transferred from the church of San Roque to the Cathedral of Almería, an initiative organized by the Navy to commemorate the 125th anniversary of its patronage. The Hermandad de la Virgen del Carmen de Pescadería collaborated in the organization of the event, which had the pertinent permits from the Almería City Council.
However, the start of the transfer was marked by an unusual situation: the Local Police did not arrive in time to block traffic, forcing members of the Navy to manage vehicle circulation in the streets of Pescadería to allow the procession to proceed.
According to eyewitnesses, car traffic was incessant on Avenida del Mar and General Luque street as the procession prepared to cross. "The Local Police were not directing traffic," detailed cofrade photographer Antonio Navarro del Pino.
Local Police officers arrived approximately one hour after the procession began, by which time it had already advanced considerably along General Luque street, and they took charge of the rest of the route.
This incident generated an unusual scene with the Navy controlling traffic and has reignited the debate on traffic management during such events, given the frequent lack of Local Police personnel to self-manage these closures.
