Round Town: Local News Benidorm, Alfaz, Altea.

WE have only recently discover benidorm on recommendation from friends.And we notice the pickpockets and prostitution but have been aware of them and made sure we had nothing on display and were not drunk as this seem to be the people they targeted. When we came to benidorm in February we notice a great difference and felt relaxed about going out at night lets hope this continues we even saw the pea men being arrested by the police who were in plain clothes .Lets hope it continues to improve we are coming back in june

Well done round town, more publicity the better, Benidorm is Spanish its a brill place but after all our money built it. Its just a pity low life have been allowed to drag it down. it looks like the lows are on the back foot for now, so lets grt on with the party.

So sad, all these comments I have read from people who have been happy coming to Benidorm for years. It does put you off. I do fear for all the bars and businesses there in the next few years, shame

Love - Benidorm, visit few times every year, have done for over 20 years. Hate - The escalating crime rate aimed at tourists. Dislike - the fact the police and council think its not important enough to quickly get sorted. Sorry - that honest peoples jobs will be lost, through the eventutal decline in the tourist industry, because at the end of the day I have to be more concerned with my safety even if the Benidorm lazy fat cats are not.

I almost got mugged several years ago on the yellow brick road early in the morning while going back to the excellent rio park.Theses people seem to be every where.If nothing is done then people will stop going to benidorm.

Me and my wife stayed in Benidorm last year & we loved the place.We never had no problems.Due to the crime rate we have now decided not to go back this year,which is a great shame.I am a well fit person who can look after myself but my wife is not happy about what is going on in Benidorm.

Hi to everyone at Roundtown. I would just like to say well done for highlighting one of the main problems which is blighting Benidorm at the moment. I.e. the crime. we have just returned from our latest trip to benidorm.We have been holidaying there for over 40 years,sometimes 2 or 3 times a year but never before have i felt so strong in my views about my fears for the future of Benidorm. For so many years now i have defended benidorm to anyone who criticised it but now it seems that everyone I talk to seems to agree that the streets of benidorm have become a scary place not only late at night but also during the hours of daylight. the authorities must know the identities of the peamen/pickpockets/muggers who contaminate the streets by day and night but seem happy to let them carry on robbing innocent and usually elderly tourists. Then when night arrives the trouble doubles as it then becomes impossible to walk along Calle Gerona without being solicited by the prostitutes whose only aim is to rob anyone who crosses their path. Something has got to be done and done very quickly because if the Benidorm council dont get their heads out of the sand and rid the streets of the plague of crime and indecency then more and more people are going to desert the already half empty streets of benidorm and look for safer alternatives. So although we have enjoyed our many visits to benidorm we, like many others will not be returning until the situation improves. Action is needed NOW if benidorm is not to turn into another winter holiday ghost town.

just had a week in benidorm and we were appaled at the amount of pickpockets/ muggers we were aware of and more gangs of peamen than we normally see even arriving on the bus to the hotel on calle gerona we were informed by the rep to look out for the pickpockets etc surrounding the bus wonderful start to our holiday we have been to benidorm over 60 times but im not sure we will return again what a pity

could you please let me know if my email address would be published if any letters from me were to be used in roundtown

We used to holiday in benidorm twice a year over for ten years but in march 2009 my partner was mugged at knifepoint on our first day and he suffered serious injury and trauma, we are returning on the 14th feb for the first time since it happened and having read your article Im now wondering whether to cancel, its a shame the authorities dont see clearly what these people are doing to their town and tourism and yes they should start to crack down and enforce a zero tolerance policy, thats why these people are continuing to rob people as there is no deterrent.

Think it is definately getting worse, watched someon getting attacked outside maggie mays last year Police got one of them he was back on the streets the very next night.

Its just not on!Cops are a waste of time,that stupid law they have that they have to steal more than €300 before they are locked up is a joke, we were robbed second last time we were over on our "last" day thank god our holiday would have been spoilt if it was on our first day...and the more I read about this sad situation the more we will "have to" stay away from a place we realy love to visit for fear it might happen again...Sad

The article on Romanian Gypsies is hardly news, this has been going on for several years especially near the outdoor market and the Yellow Brick road, Benidorm Police, who lets face are not the best in the world and seem to suffer the same malady as British police,backsides superglued to patrol car seats.when is the last time you seen any of them on foot patrol ?. We go to Benidorm several times a year for a month at a time always staying in the excellent Rio Park but on the last few visits we have not left the hotel after dark because of the crime situation and as a result local hostelries suffer, and we are not alone on this, very few folk venture out at night. Its a pity you can no longer buy pepper sprays or stunners to protect yourself.Its time this rats nest of gypsies was cleared out of Benidorm before even more harm is done to its reputation, its sad but true but I very much doubt things will change so come on Mr Mayor, do something about it before we all stop coming and go on cruises instead.