The decision, which follows years of union demands, has sparked a polarized debate within the city council. Junts per Barcelona, PSC, and PP voted in favor, while Barcelona en Comú and ERC opposed it, citing the potential risk of lethality and the possibility of use against fourteen-year-olds. Vox abstained.
Officers could have the first Tasers by 2027. The regulation was previously debated last year but failed in the June 2025 plenary session when Junts voted against it due to a lack of negotiation with local police unions. The PP had reiterated the request to incorporate the weapon before the summer holidays.
The municipal government, led by Jaume Collboni, had initially ruled out equipping the Guàrdia Urbana with Tasers this term. However, the increasing use of bladed weapons on Barcelona's streets has prompted a reconsideration. The regulation now approved remains unchanged from the previous version.
The Deputy Mayor for Security, Albert Batlle, described the Taser as a "necessary tool" with "proven utility," noting that it is already used by 80 local police forces in Catalonia and by the Mossos d'Esquadra. Batlle asserted that the regulation is "the most guarantor in all of Spain," requiring mandatory prior training, strict usage rules, and exhaustive control of every intervention.
Jordi Martí Galbis, leader of Junts in the City Council, criticized Batlle for the year's delay caused by not negotiating with the unions, while still deeming the weapon necessary for public and officer safety.
The PP, through councilor Sonia Devesa, urged the initiation of the tender process to acquire 150 devices within a maximum of three months once the regulation is final, believing they fill a "gap" in police defense.
Vox, represented by Gonzalo de Oro, called for a "real implementation" of the weapon, making it available to all officers who pass the training, and requested simplification of the regulation's legal framework.
Barcelona en Comú and ERC maintain their opposition. BComú councilor Marc Serra recalled the eight deaths recorded in Spain due to Taser discharges since 2018. Republican councilor Jordi Coronas reiterated the negative vote for "political consistency," particularly criticizing its potential use against adolescents.
