The Civic Agents service of Seville City Council, known as night watchmen, has incorporated the Cerezo neighbourhood into its area of work. They now operate in 34 neighbourhoods of the capital, providing coverage to over 5,000 new residents.
Seville City Council has expanded the night watch service to the Cerezo neighbourhood, located between Avenida de Sánchez Pizjuán and San Lázaro. With this addition, the Civic Agents team now serves a total of 34 neighbourhoods in the Andalusian capital, benefiting more than 5,000 new residents.
The service operates every night of the year from 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM, currently employing 70 workers and 3 coordinators. The agents carry out prevention and proximity tasks: they inform residents and visitors, mediate disputes, detect issues with urban furniture, and act as the first link with emergency services.
Training and expansion of the service
Before going out on the streets, the night watchmen receive training in operational protocols provided by Cecop and Civil Protection. They also receive specific training to prevent gender violence and combat LGTBphobia, in collaboration with the Andalusian Institute for Women.
The pilot project started in December 2023 with 18 agents and 2 coordinators in 12 neighbourhoods of the Historic Centre. The first major expansion occurred in October 2025, when the team grew to 50 agents covering 29 areas, with an investment of 2.6 million euros. In May 2026, Las Almenas, Pino Montano, Consolación, and San Diego were added, and now Cerezo.
The mayor, José Luis Sanz, highlighted that "the data supports the service's trajectory". During the first half of the year, 3,704 escorts were provided, 808 emergency alerts were made, 77 lost items were managed, and over 900 visits to businesses were conducted to ensure a constant presence. "The people of Seville have made this service their own, and that community support is the best demand we have to continue expanding it, neighbourhood by neighbourhood," he added.
Social and employment impact
More than 40 hires of unemployed individuals have been made under the Local Plan for Cohesion and Social Inclusion, as part of the Eracis+ strategy, which is funded by the Junta de Andalucía and the European Social Fund Plus. According to the mayor, "behind each uniform, there is often a person who has returned to the job market thanks to this programme."
For the residents of Cerezo, the arrival of the night watchmen means an enhancement of security and night-time attention in the area. The service is designed to provide close and deterrent support, especially during low-traffic hours. The agents, identified by a distinctive uniform, patrol on foot and establish direct contact with residents and shopkeepers.
The City Council plans to continue expanding the service to new neighbourhoods based on demand and available resources. For now, the residents of Cerezo can count on the presence of the night watchmen every night, from eleven at night until seven in the morning.
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