Man arrested for filming peregrina in albergue shower

[Bradypus]

A news item from a Palencia website. A man has been arrested for filming a female pilgrim showering in an unnamed albergue on the Camino.

Un peregrino graba a otra peregrina

Los hechos ocurrieron ayer mientras el caminante, de 31 años, se encontraba en la estación de tren de Frómista. La víctima lo denunció a la Guardia Civil

www.diariopalentino.es

 

[SabsP]

A sad day.

Good and strong from the peregrina to make an official complaint.
The mobile office from the Guardia Civil is a big help in such a case.

Heavens knows if this was only the first time the man acted this way in an albergue? No local, no stranger on the road, but a " fellow pilgrim ".

 

[henrythedog]

Commendable action on the part of the Peregrina (allegedly - until proven guilty) subjected to such a disgraceful act and good to see the GC publicising ‘alertcops’

 

[Bradypus]

and good to see the GC publicising ‘alertcops’

The Guardia Civil have dedicated a lot of staff and resources to the Caminos. The Alertcops app is a good example though not specific to the Caminos. I have always found the Guardia very professional and helpful. A couple of days ago they made a complicated rescue of a peregrina with a head injury on the Primitivo. A service I think we should acknowledge gratefully.

Complicado rescate a una peregrina que cayó de un muro y rodó por el monte en Grandas de Salime

Un agente de la Guardia Civil tuvo que descolgarse con una cuerda para llegar a la mujer, de 53 años y que presentaba un fuerte golpe en la cabeza tras acabar en una zona de difícil acceso

www.lne.es

 

[peregrina2000]

The Guardia Civil have dedicated a lot of staff and resources to the Caminos. The Alertcops app is a good example though not specific to the Caminos. I have always found the Guardia very professional and helpful. A couple of days ago they made a complicated rescue of a peregrina with a head injury on the Primitivo. A service I think we should acknowledge gratefully.

Complicado rescate a una peregrina que cayó de un muro y rodó por el monte en Grandas de Salime

Un agente de la Guardia Civil tuvo que descolgarse con una cuerda para llegar a la mujer, de 53 años y que presentaba un fuerte golpe en la cabeza tras acabar en una zona de difícil acceso

www.lne.es

I am sure that people will write (or have witten) doctoral dissertations about this, but the transformation of the Guardia Civil from a hated and feared entity to a trusted and, dare I say, loved (or at least respected) arm of the state is truly incredible.

 

[LTfit]

I am sure that people will write (or have witten) doctoral dissertations about this, but the transformation of the Guardia Civil from a hated and feared entity to a trusted and, dare I say, loved (or at least respected) arm of the state is truly incredible.

So true Laurie! I was also in Spain in the early 70's when those triangular hats were to be feared.

 

[JerryStroebele]

In the Barcelona airport last year I asked some Guardia Civil officers, in my best bad Spanish, where was the Covid testing station. In perfect English an officer gave me detailed instructions on how to get there, but it was complicated, up and down floors. Then he just said, "oh, follow me" and lead the way. Buen Camino

 

[peregrina2000]

So true Laurie! I was also in Spain in the early 70's when those triangular hats were to be feared.

Not that it matters, but one thing that may have had something to do with easing the transformation is that the Guardia Civil is a military unit, not a civil police unit. Orders from the top flow down faster, I bet.

I did a little reading and see that the Guardia Civil reports to both the Ministery of the Interior (for its civil policing operations) and the Ministry of Defense. In times of war, its only reporting is to Defense.

Sorry to go off topic a bit, but I can’t resist — LT do you remember when we met the retired guardia civil and her partner in Huesca and they bought us drinks? She had retired from the Guardia Civil’s biathalon team (a sport I had never heard of till then) because of shoulder injuries, no doubt caused by her shooting escapades!

 

[Tincatinker]

Oh, wouldn't it be fun if the alleged perpetrator was obliged to appear in Court naked. Sadly Spain is a civilized country....

On the other inclination of this thread: I do recall a friendly conversation with a fairly senior GC officer (lots of braid). When I said that back in the day I would have fled and hid at the merest glimpse of that uniform he responded "that was probably wise".

I guess it illustrates that even long established Statutory Organizations can change. UK Metropolitan Police Service please note

 

[Annette london]

A sad day.

Good and strong from the peregrina to make an official complaint.
The mobile office from the Guardia Civil is a big help in such a case.

Heavens knows if this was only the first time the man acted this way in an albergue? No local, no stranger on the road, but a " fellow pilgrim ".

During the past week we’ve seen the Guardia Civil monitoring the Camino at least four times, either in a car or on horseback

 

[Dem]

So true Laurie! I was also in Spain in the early 70's when those triangular hats were to be feared.

Yes, me too

 

[DenWhite]

On our last Camino we registered on the Alert Cops App in Pamplona and a couple of days later, when crossing a main road, a Guardia Civil car stopped in front of us with the window down greeting us and asking if all was well. We were 'blown away' trying to get our heads around such a thing happening. Two days later we were having a rest break out of the way a bit off the trail and out of no where a car pulls up asking if we were ok and it was the same 2 officers. They must have been Aussiephobes!

 

[Bradypus]

On the other inclination of this thread: I do recall a friendly conversation with a fairly senior GC officer (lots of braid). When I said that back in the day I would have fled and hid at the merest glimpse of that uniform he responded "that was probably wise".

One of my favourite books is Graham Greene's "Monsignor Quixote". Set a few years after the death of Franco but the main characters still have a deep suspicion of the Guardia Civil and that is a major part of the plot. A wonderful mixture of funny and painful with a few profound moments. When a good friend of mine was made a Canon in the Church of England I gave him a pair of red socks with instructions to show them to any inquisitive police officers. Those who have read the story will understand why!

 

[LTfit]

Not that it matters, but one thing that may have had something to do with easing the transformation is that the Guardia Civil is a military unit, not a civil police unit. Orders from the top flow down faster, I bet.

I did a little reading and see that the Guardia Civil reports to both the Ministery of the Interior (for its civil policing operations) and the Ministry of Defense. In times of war, its only reporting is to Defense.

Sorry to go off topic a bit, but I can’t resist — LT do you remember when we met the retired guardia civil and her partner in Huesca and they bought us drinks? She had retired from the Guardia Civil’s biathalon team (a sport I had never heard of till then) because of shoulder injuries, no doubt caused by her shooting escapades!

Right! And I remember thinking she is so young to retire. You always amaze me, you have such a great memory for details. I would have not remembered where this happened.

 

[ginniek]

One of my favourite books is Graham Greene's "Monsignor Quixote". Set a few years after the death of Franco but the main characters still have a deep suspicion of the Guardia Civil and that is a major part of the plot. A wonderful mixture of funny and painful with a few profound moments. When a good friend of mine was made a Canon in the Church of England I gave him a pair of red socks with instructions to show them to any inquisitive police officers. Those who have read the story will understand why!

Thanks for introducing me to a Graham Greene book I have not yet read. I plan to read it read it on my Atlanta-Madrid flight next week.

 

[nathanael]

A sad day.

Good and strong from the peregrina to make an official complaint.
The mobile office from the Guardia Civil is a big help in such a case.

Heavens knows if this was only the first time the man acted this way in an albergue? No local, no stranger on the road, but a " fellow pilgrim ".

no wonder I stay in pensions! I had a man follow me in his car on a wooded trail when I was doing Camino Norte. I eventually walked off the Camino route and did the road and he followed me there. I eventually crossed the road and stopped by some construction place where men were out and just stood there, the guy finally left. That ended my Camino route and just did the road and felt safer. A Belgian lady told me she had a similar situation on the wooded Camino trail just before Sobrado. A young guy on a motorcycle road past her twice when she came by him he had undressed and she just kept walking.

 

[BROWNCOUNTYBOB]

During my recent Camino Portuguese, as I was hiking the senda, I saw a Guardia Civil SUV parked along the trail. He was very friendly and speaking with pilgrims. I asked if he had a "sello" stamp and I was thrilled he did! Very cool to get a stamp from the GC ! Bob

 

[BarbaraW]

Earlier this year, I decided to stay in the Xunta albergue at Briallos, a few k before Caldas de Reis. The albergue is in rural surroundings a little way off the path. As I got near, I was very surprised to see lots of cars parked and a big GC vehicle. It was Sunday, and a poster on the wall of the bar next to the albergue indicated that a political rally was taking place in the garden.

As I hesitated, two GC jumped out of the van, and approached me, smiling. They escorted me past the rally and into the deserted albergue, showed me all the facilities, and invited me to select my bunk. Then left me with a cheery "Buen Camino". Being escorted to my pilgrim bed by armed guards felt a rather special experience!

It was sometime later, browsing Gronze, that I discovered that the Guardia Civil are listed as being the albergue management.

 

[dick bird]

Nonetheless, if you are a community member with a public reputation to maintain and you have been doing something you might feel ashamed of, the arrival of the Guardia Civil and your front door to ask a few ‘friendly’ questions would probably act as a pretty powerful deterrent. Download Alertcops and report everything.