SPAIN’S deployment of the National Police and the Guardia Civil as part of the central government’s operation to try to stop the independence referendum in Cataluña has already cost almost €32m – but the figure could still rise.
As well as the policing costs the Spanish government has rented three cruise ships to house officers who were sent to the area.
The Ministry of the Interior has estimated that the bill for the National Police will be in the region of €11.2m and around €9.2m for the Guardia Civil.
€11.3 million is earmarked for subsistence allowances, €5.5 million of which is for those who were accommodated on the ships.
Officers who are housed on the vessels are receiving €95 euros a day in addition to their normal pay.
For the National Police officers and Guardia Civil who were accommodated in other parts of the Catalan territory the allowance is €110 euros a day.
A €70,000 item has also been earmarked for ‘gratuities’ for support and other staff who do not have operational tasks.
Two cruise ships, The Rhapsody and Moby Dada arrived in the ports of Barcelona on September 20 and were originally expected to leave on October 5. That date has now been extended for another week.
A third ship, the GNV Azzurra, docked in the Port of Tarragona, has also extended its stay until next week.