The night watchmen service of Seville has incorporated the neighbourhood of El Cerezo, adding up to 34 areas and 70 agents. More than 5,000 residents have benefited from the proximity night service since this week.
The night watchmen service of Seville, which began over two years ago as a pilot project in the Historic Centre, has now reached 34 neighbourhoods following its latest expansion. El Cerezo, in the northern part of the capital, has become the latest area to join this network of proximity night surveillance, one of the areas with the most significant security issues in recent months.
Since last Monday, civic agents have been patrolling between Sánchez Pizjuán Avenue and San Lázaro Avenue, covering more than 5,000 new residents. This has been confirmed by the Seville City Council, which highlights that the service now has 70 night watchmen and three active coordinators, operational every night of the year from 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM.
A response to urban insecurity
The arrival of the night watchmen in El Cerezo is not coincidental. This neighbourhood has been the scene of numerous episodes of insecurity in recent months, with fights and violent altercations linked to the presence of homeless individuals and the activities of the so-called 'gorrillas'. The situation escalated to the point where residents themselves organised citizen patrols to try to restore order in the streets.
The City Council had already intensified cleaning and police presence in the area, and the new Rapid Action Group (GAR) of the Local Police conducted its first intervention there. Now, the night watchmen take over during the night to maintain vigilance and offer a proximity service that, according to the City Council, aims to prevent conflicts and improve the perception of safety.
A service in constant growth
The project started in December 2023 with 18 agents and two coordinators deployed in 12 neighbourhoods of the Historic Centre. The first major expansion occurred in October 2025, when 2.6 million euros were invested to expand the service to 50 agents and 29 areas. In May 2026, Las Almenas, Pino Montano, Consolación, and San Diego were added, and now El Cerezo completes the map with 34 covered neighbourhoods.
The Mayor of Seville, José Luis Sanz, has highlighted the results from the first half of 2026: 3,704 escorts, 808 alerts to emergency services, 77 lost items processed, and over 900 visits to shops. Furthermore, more than 40 of the hires have been made from unemployed individuals registered in social and labour insertion pathways of the Local Plan, adding a social component to the project.
Specific training and preventive work
The night watchmen do not just patrol. Their work is preventive and proximity-based: they inform residents and visitors, mediate in conflicts, detect incidents in urban furniture, and act as the first link with emergency services. To this end, they receive training in action protocols from CECOP and Civil Protection, as well as specific preparation in gender violence prevention and combating LGTBIfobia, in collaboration with the Andalusian Institute of Women.
For the residents of El Cerezo, the arrival of the service represents relief after months of tension. Although the police had already increased their presence, the role of the night watchman offers constant and close surveillance during the night. The City Council plans to continue expanding the service to more neighbourhoods based on demand and available resources.
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