Third Consecutive Year of Decline in Incidents at Elda's Moors and Christians Festival

During the five days of Elda's Moors and Christians festival, the number of incidents attended by the Local Police decreased by 5.27% compared to 2024, according to the report by the Department of Citizen Security. This marks the third consecutive decline since 2023.

Silvia Ibáñez, the Councillor for Citizen Security, stated on Tuesday that "during the festival period, we had an average of 67 Local Police officers daily, who attended a total of 218 incidents and ensured the safety and smooth running of the 18 scheduled festive events. The high participation of festival-goers led to many events extending beyond their initial timeframes."

It should be noted that Elda's Local Police provided services in patrol cars, on motorcycles, and on foot, with additional support from the drone unit during events with large crowds.

The councillor also noted that, in addition to the Local Police, there was "reinforcement from the National Police during the Band Entry and nightly services in the city centre, where most of the festival quarters are located. The Civil Guard was responsible for controlling gunpowder during events involving firearms. Additionally, the Local Civil Protection Group, reinforced by volunteers from other areas, collaborated to ensure the safety and smooth running of all events."

The day with the highest number of recorded incidents was Saturday, with 55 incidents. It's important to remember that this day hosts the Municipal Quarter, attracting visitors from other towns.

Regarding the types of incidents, which were not concentrated in any specific area, it is noteworthy that those related to the festival quarters, particularly due to loud music, street closures, and awning installations, were similar to last year. The Local Police provided 19 services for these situations, one more than in 2024. In 2022, there were 37 interventions in festival quarters.

The Local Police carried out 29 assistance services for individuals, most of whom were under the influence of alcohol. Officers intervened in a total of 17 brawls over the five days, showing a slight increase compared to previous years, although all were minor incidents.

The number of traffic accidents decreased from 9 in 2024 to 8 in 2025. Only one case involved a charge for driving under the influence of alcohol. Before the start of parades involving vehicles or motorised floats, all drivers underwent breathalyser tests, with all results negative. Regarding administrative complaints, a total of 17 were processed, 9 for violating the Municipal Coexistence Ordinance and the rest under the Citizen Security Law.

Silvia Ibáñez explained that "every night, the cessation of music in the festival quarters was monitored, and security was provided to cleaning staff during their duties."