Formentera continues to face a significant shortage of Guardia Civil officers, with only around 30 of the 48 positions in its authorised staffing establishment reportedly filled. The shortfall has prompted renewed calls for urgent action from the professional association JUCIL, which says the island is struggling to recruit and retain officers because of the high cost of housing and the lack of sufficient financial incentives.

In a report published on 5 November 2026, La Voz de Ibiza highlighted the staffing situation and the concerns raised by Tomás Quesada, JUCIL's spokesperson in the Balearic Islands. According to Quesada, the number of officers actually serving at the Formentera barracks fluctuates between 26 and 30.

The island's authorised Guardia Civil establishment has increased from 27 positions in 2023 to 48 in 2026. However, the increase in the number of positions has not translated into a corresponding increase in the number of officers available on the ground.

The island director, Raquel Guasch, has acknowledged that staffing coverage stands at approximately 60%, according to the report.

Guardia Civil Establishment Expanded to 48 Positions

The Guardia Civil staffing establishment in Formentera has grown considerably over the past three years. In 2023, the authorised complement stood at 27 agents, compared with 48 positions in 2026.

The expansion was intended to strengthen the force's capacity to respond to the island's particular needs, including the increased operational demands associated with maritime migration arrivals.

However, according to JUCIL, the actual number of officers present remains between 26 and 30. Against an authorised establishment of 48, this leaves an estimated shortfall of between 18 and 22 positions.

The difference between authorised staffing and officers actually available is central to the association's criticism. JUCIL argues that headline recruitment and vacancy-coverage figures do not necessarily reflect the number of experienced officers who remain on the island and are available to provide regular services.

Staff Turnover Complicates Recruitment

Another major concern raised by JUCIL is the constant rotation of personnel.

According to the association, around 75% of new officers arriving in Formentera are assigned through compulsory postings or are still completing their practical training. The association says many leave after approximately one year, creating recurring recruitment difficulties and preventing the island from establishing a stable workforce.

The problem was also highlighted in figures published by JUCIL on 28 October. The organisation reported that eight Guardia Civil officers had recently joined Formentera, but seven were only required to remain for one year. It also reported that three officers had left the island after the summer season.

This means that 87.5% of those eight recent arrivals have a minimum commitment of only one year. It does not mean that all seven will necessarily leave when that period ends, but it does highlight the uncertainty surrounding the long-term composition of the force.

JUCIL argues that repeated turnover places additional pressure on officers who remain permanently based on the island. These officers must cover additional duties, sometimes work double shifts and repeatedly train new colleagues who may leave after a relatively short period.

Housing Identified as the Main Obstacle

The lack of affordable accommodation is identified by JUCIL as one of the principal reasons why Formentera struggles to attract and retain Guardia Civil officers.

The association says the current salary and residential allowance arrangements do not adequately reflect the cost of living on the island. The barracks also does not have sufficient accommodation to house all personnel, leaving incoming officers dependent on an extremely limited private rental market.

Finding somewhere to live can therefore become a major obstacle for officers accepting a posting to Formentera.

Quesada has also highlighted the need for better accommodation facilities and cooperation between public administrations to help newly arrived officers find temporary housing while searching for a permanent place to live.

Proposed New Accommodation Could Take Years

The lack of suitable housing is also connected to a longer-term infrastructure proposal.

According to Quesada, the Consell Insular de Formentera has proposed transferring a plot of land for the expansion of Guardia Civil facilities. However, he says the project is not included in the latest infrastructure plan of the Ministry of the Interior.

Based on JUCIL's estimates of the administrative process and construction timetable, new accommodation for officers might not become available until 2033.

This is an estimate from the association rather than a confirmed construction completion date. The project would need to progress through the relevant administrative and planning stages before a definitive timetable could be established.

Migration Arrivals Add to Operational Pressure

The staffing shortage is particularly concerning because of the additional operational demands created by maritime arrivals.

In September, Quesada told Ràdio Illa that Formentera had received approximately 2,440 people arriving by boat from North Africa during 2026, according to the radio station's count at that time.

He explained that these operations require more than simply locating and assisting people who have reached the island. Officers must also carry out identification procedures, administrative work, transfers and custody arrangements at La Savina before people can be moved to Ibiza.

According to Quesada, these operations can occupy available personnel for extended periods, potentially affecting the capacity to respond to other incidents and routine policing duties.

He also said the island generally has the capacity to operate with one patrol per shift, according to the association's assessment.

The JUCIL spokesperson has stressed that simultaneous arrivals at different locations can make the situation particularly difficult, requiring officers to divide their attention while continuing to cover ordinary services.

Reinforcements from Palma and additional maritime surveillance have helped with some of these operations, according to his September interview, but the association continues to argue that the island needs a more stable permanent staffing structure.

JUCIL Calls for Higher Island Allowances

Alongside improvements to recruitment and accommodation, JUCIL is calling for a substantial revision of the residential allowance paid to public employees stationed in the Balearic Islands.

The association believes the current compensation does not adequately reflect the differences in housing costs and living expenses between the islands.

It wants a system that takes account of the specific economic circumstances of each island, alongside improvements to accommodation facilities and greater cooperation between public administrations to help officers settle in Formentera.

The association argues that without better financial and residential conditions, recruitment efforts will continue to be undermined by the difficulty of retaining officers once they arrive.

A Long-Term Challenge for Formentera's Security Services

Formentera's Guardia Civil staffing shortage is not a new issue. Previous meetings between the Consell Insular and professional associations have highlighted the difficulties of maintaining sufficient personnel, particularly during periods of increased seasonal pressure.

The latest figures show that expanding the authorised establishment alone has not resolved the problem. Although the number of positions has increased from 27 to 48 since 2023, the reported number of officers actually serving remains considerably lower.

JUCIL is now urging the new Government delegate in the Balearic Islands, Pere Joan Pons, to introduce concrete measures addressing recruitment, retention, housing and island compensation.

For the association, the priority is not simply to increase the number of positions on paper, but to ensure that enough officers are able to live and work permanently in Formentera to provide a stable service throughout the year.