Footage shows an argument between tourists and police at a resort in Marbella, Spain, during a crackdown on beach vendors when suddenly an officer lashes out at a man
A tourist was filmed being hit in the face by a police officer in an argument during a crackdown on beach vendors in Spain.
The policeman, who was seen wearing a helmet, slapped the man twice around the face despite there not appearing to be any prior physical provocation. The shocking incident happened on Saturday afternoon in Marbella at the popular holiday resort called Playa del Faro – which is popular with British tourists. The unidentified holidaymaker appeared to yell ‘Hijo de puta’ which in English would translate as ‘Son of a bitch’ before being slapped.
Local reports said he had been remonstrating with the officer over his aggressive attitude towards the so-called ‘looky looky’ men who swamp Marbella’s seafront in the summer and sell counterfeit goods like sunglasses and bags in breach of municipal regulations.
Police officers were seen pushing one of them before the holidaymaker assault as others chased after fellow street sellers trying to run away with their belongings.
Despite the video footage appearing to identify the police officer as the aggressor, the elderly tourist is understood to have been arrested.
Another holidaymaker in a pair of skimpy swimming trunks, filmed being surrounded by seven officers and pinned to the ground after a shouting match and a lot of finger pointing, tried to intervene but also ended up getting arrested.
Sources claimed today, as the video footage going viral was being looked at by local authorities to see if any officers should face disciplinary action, that one of the detainees threw a bottle at cops. He is denying the allegation.
The beach drama occurred around a fortnight after another street vendor was filmed punching a policeman in the face as he tried to stop him confiscating the counterfeit goods he was selling at a Marbella beach bar.
The astonishing scene unfolded in front of British tourists, with one forced to jump out of the way as the violence flared yelling: “What the F##k! That was mental.”
Police later claimed the ‘looky looky’ men they have to deal with on a regular basis are getting more and more aggressive and don’t think twice about employing violence when police try to stop them and seize their merchandise because they know the courts will let them off with little more than a fine if they can be tracked down and identified.
Marbella Town Hall has not yet commented on the actions of the police officer seen slapping the tourist filmed insulting him at the weekend.
They said the incident had happened during a routine police inspection against itinerant street trading. Police officers on quads are carrying out more regular inspections during the summer in Marbella.