The increasing pressure from the Mossos d'Esquadra, the police force of Catalonia, to combat multirreincidence— the repeat offense of property crimes—is leading some criminals to shift their activities to neighboring municipalities in the Barcelona metropolitan area, including El Prat, Badalona, and L'Hospitalet.

This phenomenon indicates that the measures in place do not eliminate crime but rather displace it to other regions.

Recent police operations have shown a surge in criminal incidents around the airport in Prat, the promenade in Badalona, and L'Hospitalet, especially in areas surrounding Fira, prompting the Mossos to expand their tactical plans into these zones.

The new enforcement strategy, dubbed Pla Kanpai—named after the Japanese word for 'cheers'—is set to launch this weekend.

It replaces the previous Pla Tremall, introduced in 2020, and aims for a more targeted approach to apprehending prolific offenders.

The strategic shift includes enhanced police presence in the streets, characterized by the involvement of riot control units intended to saturate crime-prone areas to deter criminal activity.

The operation will feature coordinated efforts between local police forces and the National Police, incorporating their jurisdiction over foreign nationals from the outset.

Data from the recent security meeting in Barcelona indicates a reduction in reported thefts by 6.3% and violent robberies by 8.4% during the last year.

This evolving landscape of crime has led to the migration of certain criminals to bordering cities.

The overarching goal of Pla Kanpai is to neutralize the most active multi-offenders, often referred to as professionals, who rely on theft as their primary means of livelihood.

Through shared data and intelligence, the plan seeks to quickly identify itinerant criminals before they relocate to other areas.

In 2024, the Mossos arrested 452 individuals responsible for a total of 3,600 prior offenses, linked to 9,114 crimes, averaging eight arrests and 20 thefts per person.

The operational team will include plainclothes officers specialized in surveillance, known as _fura_, who will be equipped with enhanced datasets and critical information derived from inter-agency cooperation.

A study conducted by the Mossos has identified three categories of pickpockets: those who commit crimes out of necessity often stemming from marginal backgrounds and drug dependencies, individuals from non-marginal circumstances who resorted to crime due to employment barriers, and professional criminals whose lifestyle centers around theft.

Community leaders emphasize the significant differences between these groups, advocating for tailored interventions based on an individual's circumstances.

Despite the focused police efforts, the design of the Pla Kanpai is part of a broader directive from newly appointed police director Josep Lluís Trapero, who called for a holistic analysis of repeat offending to integrate judicial, legislative, social services, and correctional perspectives into effective crime combat strategies.

Law enforcement is encouraged to foster discussions with the Catalan Department of Justice regarding potential reforms, such as enforcing community service as part of sentences within police precincts, similar to pilot programs already underway.

The plan also aims to engage retired officers who could supervise rehabilitative activities outside prison for qualified offenders, promoting reintegration as a means to disrupt the cycle of crime.

The initiative reflects a comprehensive approach to understanding and addressing the multifaceted issues surrounding multirreincidence while leveraging collaboration across various societal sectors.