The Rural Agents corps has announced the creation of a new headquarters in the Baix Penedès region, which will be located in the former facilities of the Mossos d'Esquadra police station in El Vendrell. This initiative is part of a broader strategic plan that also foresees an expansion of staff in the Tarragona and Terres de l'Ebre regions. The new bases planned for El Vendrell, Tarragona, Móra, and Amposta are currently in the pre-tender phase for the works.
These developments were presented by the corps' chief inspector, Josep Antoni Mur, during the presentation of the new Strategic Plan for the Rural Agents Corps 2026-2030 in Reus. According to Mur, the staff will increase by over a hundred officers, rising from the current 80 agents to 186 in Camp de Tarragona and from 160 to 162 in l'Ebre.
The strategic plan aims to double the staff across Catalonia to 1,300 agents. The goal is to strengthen territorial presence, increase operational hours (currently only daytime), and enhance response capabilities for incidents and emergencies. This reinforcement will improve the surveillance of natural areas, forest fire prevention, wildlife protection, and forest resource management.
“"The corps manages over 40,000 incidents annually, many related to wildlife and fires, requiring structural changes for a body not designed, dimensioned, or structured to handle such decision-making and immediacy. The new strategic plan represents a significant qualitative leap, addressing current societal challenges like increased interest in environmental care and the overcrowding of natural spaces."
The Director General of the Rural Agents, Elisenda Pérez Esteve, highlighted the importance of the new headquarters in Tarragona, El Vendrell, Amposta, and Móra d'Ebre, which are four of the thirteen new bases planned. The aim is to adapt the infrastructure to the operational and logistical needs of the staff. The rehabilitation of the former Mossos police station in El Vendrell, located in the La Cometa building, will transform the space into the headquarters for the new Basic Area of Baix Penedès. Pérez is confident that all thirteen bases will be completed by 2030, with an estimated cost between 3 and 4 million euros per site.
The Strategic Plan also redefines the operational regions, creating the new Metropolitan North and Metropolitan South regions. Baix Penedès, previously part of the Tarragona Regional Area, will be integrated into the new Metropolitan South region, along with Anoia, Baix Llobregat, Garraf, and Alt Penedès.
