Summer presents a challenge for the Guardia Civil in Almería, with a significant rise in activity at its Operations Center (COS). This continuously operating facility is key to managing security in the province, especially given the surge in calls and emergencies associated with tourism and seasonal events.
The province's population, which normally exceeds 500,000 inhabitants, increases notably during the summer months. This influx of visitors and activities directly impacts deployed units and, crucially, the COS, which is responsible for analyzing, coordinating, and supervising all operations.
One of the COS's primary functions is the constant handling of the emergency line 062. During the summer period, calls to this number rise by 14%. Additionally, Seneca case files are managed, showing an 11% increase, while interactions with other organizations, alarm centers, and various services collectively grow by over 12%.
This center also coordinates incidents received through other emergency services like 112 and 061, as well as operations involving Maritime Rescue. The COS continuously monitors units in service and manages external support, including explosive ordnance disposal teams, helicopters, and specialized mountain rescue units.
Work intensifies in sensitive areas such as gender violence, in collaboration with the Cometa Center and the VioGén system, and in managing fire risk, which sometimes requires prolonged surveillance and monitoring.
These tasks are complemented by citizen inquiries and incident management via AlertCops, a platform covering 95% of the provincial territory (approximately 3,400 km²).
The COS also maintains communication with the Center for Intelligence against Terrorism and Organized Crime (CITCO) for logistical support, such as managing fuel seized in operations against illegal high-speed boats.
Over a dozen applications and IT platforms support this work, including the Integrated Operations Management System (SIGO), the Integrated External Surveillance System (SIVE), the VioGén system, and AlertCops.
During the summer, the COS becomes a vital component for coordinating the thousands of services and patrols conducted by the Guardia Civil in Almería, ensuring frontline officers have the necessary resources.
The analysis, coordination, and monitoring work from this operations room is essential for the Guardia Civil's response in the province, especially during peak months.
