Tougher penalties for repeat offenders in Spain

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1. Judges can impose personal precautionary measures, such as barring the person under investigation from going to or living in certain places, to protect victims and prevent reoffending from the start of the proceedings.
2. Local governments (municipalities) can now bring criminal charges in theft cases, something they could not do before.
3. Theft is punished more severely when the offender has previously been convicted of three crimes of the same nature, and a specific aggravated offense is created for stealing cell phones and other devices holding personal data. The aggravated offense for thefts on farms is also simplified when what is stolen is worth more than 400 euros.
4. Minor fraud is updated: if the amount does not exceed 400 euros the penalty is a fine, but anyone with three prior convictions for similar crimes faces a prison sentence of six months to three years. In addition, penalties for 'petaqueoPetaqueo The practice of stealing fuel, usually from vehicles or other people's tanks.' (fuel theft) with liquid fuel are increased, and each Higher Court of Justice must have a territorially assigned judge per 100,000 inhabitants within two years.

Who it affects

• People who commit crimes repeatedly: They will face harsher penalties and may be barred from going to or living in certain places.
• City councils: They can now directly bring charges in theft cases.
• Businesses and neighbors affected by repeated thefts: They will have a more effective criminal response.
• Farmers and livestock breeders: Theft of products or tools from their farms will be punished more easily.
• Victims of cell phone theft: Stealing a cell phone will always be an aggravated crime.

Words worth knowing

Medidas cautelares

Precautionary measures a judge imposes during the proceedings, before trial, to protect the victim or prevent the suspect from reoffending.

Reincidencia

Reoffending: committing a crime again after being convicted of a similar one.

Delito leve

A minor offense, punished with light penalties such as fines.

Petaqueo

The practice of stealing fuel, usually from vehicles or other people's tanks.

Antecedentes penales cancelados

Past convictions that are erased from a person's record after meeting certain conditions and, as a rule, are not taken into account.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries