La Oliva opens its first Local Police office in El Cotillo on the eve of the first weekend of Buen Viaje 2026

A response to one of El Cotillo’s long-standing demands. La Oliva Town Council, through its Citizen Security Department, led by Mayor Isaí Blanco, and with the space provided by the Transport Department of the Fuerteventura Island Council, has opened the first Local Police office in El Cotillo. Located at the D. Pedro Hernández Morales preferred bus stop, the Town Council and the Island Council are joining forces to improve safety for local residents, opening this key facility on the eve of the first weekend of celebrations in honour of the town’s patron saint, Our Lady of Buen Viaje.

The new facility will enable security services to be decentralised from Corralejo, supporting Local Police work in El Cotillo and nearby areas such as El Roque, Lajares and La Oliva. The office will have an intercom linked to the police control centre so officers can go to the area immediately in an emergency.

The opening builds on improvements to Citizen Security that have been under way since the start of the current term of office and directly reflect a substantial improvement in the quality of the service provided to date. Initiatives during the term include increasing the Local Police force from 28 officers to a total of 48 officers on the streets of the municipality.

Meanwhile, services for El Cotillo residents continue to improve. In recent years, the Town Council has undertaken various projects that have enhanced the quality of life for both locals and visitors. These include the creation of a medical centre, the awarding of the contract for the first phase of the seafront promenade renovation, the opening of the Torre del Tostón, improved pavements and accessibility in the area, and the launch of the ARRU urban regeneration and renewal programme, which benefits a number of homes in the town, among other initiatives.

La Oliva Mayor Isaí Blanco highlighted the importance of progress on security: “From the very beginning, we were clear that improving security in the municipality was one of our main priorities. We started by improving staffing and equipment, and now we can say that El Cotillo has its own Local Police office. This directly addresses one of the area’s long-standing demands, and we continue to improve and decentralise security services in La Oliva.”

Fuerteventura Island Council President Lola García said: “Providing the space inside El Cotillo’s preferred bus stop, through the Transport Department, is part of the work the Fuerteventura Island Council does with the various administrations to strengthen cooperation on security. It also meets a request from the municipal administration and will allow the Town Council to reinforce security in the area.”

Juan José Rodríguez, Councillor for Municipal Assets and Finance, added: “Today we are taking a very important step, not only in improving security services in the municipality but also in meeting the demands of El Cotillo residents. Opening this facility responds to the reality the town has faced in recent years. It will serve the everyday needs of El Cotillo and provide extra support during celebrations such as the festivities in honour of Our Lady of Buen Viaje, which will run until 23 August in the town.”

Transport Councillor Luis González said the initiative has two aims: “on the one hand, to improve municipal security and, on the other, to improve surveillance and security at the facility itself”.

The initiative reflects the local government’s commitment to improving security across the municipality, decentralising services from centres such as Corralejo and responding to the needs of a town that is continually developing, such as El Cotillo.