See page 11
UK ‘failing’ abused kids THE UK is failing British children overseas, as numerous paedophiles are being allowed to travel overseas to commit sex crimes, a new report has found. Dozens of dangerous sex offenders are being allowed to live around Europe, many in countries like Spain. In the hard hitting report, released yesterday, British expats have requested consular assistance numerous times over child sex and child pornography offences. The findings have been released in a 74-page report by the Truth Project, which is part of Britain’s in-depth Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.
Shocking
It found that UK offenders ‘figure highly’ in the numbers of sex crimes against British children abroad. According to the report, from March 31, 2018, only around 0.2% of the 58,637 registered sex offenders in England and Wales had their foreign travel restricted. It says that the disclosure and barring service is ‘confusing, inconsistent and in need of reform’. A shocking 361 suspected child sex abuse cases were recorded between 2013 and 2017 alone. In 2018, in Spain alone, around five Brits were arrested for child sex offences, according to data by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Up to five more Brits in Spain were held for child porn charges in the same year, although the exact figures are not given.
Footing the bill A THIEF has been caught after leaving his shoes behind at a crime scene. It happened after a resident of Palma heard rumbling in his garage – when he went to investigate he found his valuables in a pile by the door ready to be taken. Mysteriously, he also found a pair of someone else's shoes next to them. Police were called and arrived to find a barefoot Spaniard on the street nearby. The 26-year-old was already known for similar break-ins and has now been charged.
OLIVE PRESS MALLORCA
The
Find out what’s going on in Mallorca this January
FREE
Reuse Reduce Recycle
expat
voice in Spain
We use recycled paper
Vol. 3 Issue 71 www.theolivepress.es January 10th - January 23th 2020
SWORN IN The nearly man becomes the Main Man, as Pedro Sanchez forms a government in Spain after a turbulent two year wait
SEALED: Handshake from King confirms Sanchez as leader
“QUICK, simple and painless. The Press: “While there are going to be pain comes later,” King Felipe told lots of compromises, there will also incoming Prime Minister Pedro San- be solutions.” chez at a swearing in ceremony yes- The Madrid-based writer, who has terday. lived in Spain for half a century, addThe PSOE leader will certainly hope ed: “I’m delighted. He’s an amazing not, having had to endure an agoniz- man and it’s remarkable to think he ing two year wait and three general stuck it out after being kicked out of elections to get this far. his own party and then fighting back. It was his second recent attempt at “He has the qualities of a true statesan investiture since the Socialists man and speaks very well. won the most seats in December’s general election, but failed to win an Frankenstein overall majority. He will be a great asset for Europe,” And Sanchez, 47, pulled out all the stops as he cracked heads at a mam- added the Hispanist, who has penned moth two-day weekend session in numerous books on Spain. Madrid, after which he finally won Sanchez was sworn in at Zarzuela Palace after winning a second vote of the vote by two seats. After years of instability, it is ‘great confidence. news for Spain’ insisted one of the MPs voted by a knife-edge 167 votes to 165 to support Sanchez’s left-wing country’s best known1expats. Untitled-1.pdf 16/06/2017 15:36 Irish author Ian Gibson told the Olive coalition government, propped up by
Pablo Iglesias’s Podemos party and a host of other parties. It helped that 18 MPs, the majority from Catalunya, abstained. It means Sanchez will preside over the first coalition government in Spain since 1977 after the death of dictator Franco. The coalition, includes Podemos, PNV, Más País, Compromís, Galego Nationalist Block, Teruel Existe and Nueva Canarias. The parties opposing included the PP, Vox, Ciudadanos, Junts per Catalunya and Navarra Suma. Spain’s most recent election was the fourth in as many years as the country failed to form a cohesive government. Gibraltar’s Chief Minister Fabian Picardo sent a letter of congratulation to Sanchez on being re-elected, after ‘a tortuous and fractious debate’.
C
UK BASED
M
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Y
CM
MY
for Spanish residents
CY
CMY
K
Your
www.globelink.co.uk
952 147 834
Avenida Rey more Jaime on 1, Santa Find out pagePonca XX 0034 871 510 277
96 626 5000 +44 (0) 1353 699082
He also offered his support for the promotion of ‘policies based on the principle of dialogue, understanding and co-operation between our respective people’. Key to Sanchez’s victory was the abstention of the pro-independence Catalan party, the ERC, after Sanchez vowed to find a solution to the conflict that has dogged Spain since Catalunya’s separatist government tried to secede in 2017. The government’s opponents argue Sanchez’ ‘Frankenstein government’ will be too beholden to Catalan separatists and pose a threat to Spain’s national unity. PP leader Pablo Casado accused him of being an ‘extremist’ who had left the country’s future in the hands of ‘terrorists and coupmongers’. Spain’s new coalition is expected to roll out a policy of raising income tax for people in Spain who earn more than €130,000. Sanchez has als0 sent a message that economic management is a priority in his new government, by keeping on Maria Jesus Montero (left) in the Treasury. However, in a further sign of loyalty, he has also awarded her the new position of ‘spokesperson of the Coalition Executive’. Opinion Page 6
Tel: 952 147 834
See Page 15 - 16
TM