San Sebastián (EFE).- The Basque Country is studying imposing security in nightlife venues that have an internal capacity of 700 people to curb the proliferation of attacks with knives.
The stabbing of four people last Saturday in a nightclub in Vitoria, as well as the murder outside another venue of the young Lukas Agirre in San Sebastián, last Christmas Eve, have led the Basque executive to study security measures.
Impose security in entertainment venues
The Security Councilor of the Basque Government, Josu Erkoreka, stated this Wednesday that the regional executive is studying extending the obligation to have private security to leisure venues with a capacity of less than 700 people.
In an interview on ETB1, the counselor referred to the proliferation of crimes with bladed weapons in entertainment venues and their surroundings and explained that, before the debate on whether or not to impose metal detectors, it is necessary to study the presence private security at nightclubs.
Capacity less than 700 people
He has indicated that currently nightlife venues with a capacity of more than 700 people are required to have private security, but that the Basque Government is already analyzing how to extend this measure to more discos, even if they have lower capacities.
Erkoreka has already advanced that the Basque Government has taken “the first steps” to adopt this measure and study which establishments the obligation to have private security could be imposed, always with “balance” and after weighing the opinion of the sector.
Metal detectors
In his opinion, this measure is more urgent than that of metal detectors, since this type of device must be attended by trained professionals.
In addition, the statistics, it has abounded, suggest that the majority of attacks with bladed weapons do not occur inside the entertainment venues, but outside, both at the door, as well as in the streets near and even “far” from the discos.
“Before debating whether or not to put detectors, what we would have to discuss is whether or not they have to put security personnel in those premises,” he insisted.
The counselor added that the process to change the regulations “is in administrative proceedings”, so he believes that this measure could enter into force in “a short term”.
Erkoreka, however, has stated that there is no “significant increase” in the number of attacks with bladed weapons in the Basque Country.
