WATCHMEN IN SPAIN

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 December 1934, Page 11

WATCHMEN IN SPAIN

COMEDY OF THE “SERENO.” Spain is much interested in the news from London to' the effect that the creation of a corps of night watchmen is being considered. Every visitor to Spain notices the “serino,” or watchman, who, with his pouch of keys and small oil lamp, dangling from his chest and with his metal-shod staff in his hand, forms one of the chief notes of city life after dark. Madrid’s “serenos” come in large part from Galicia. They form the butt for much good-natured fun on the variety and musical comedy stages. The fact that the “Madrilenos” live almost exclusively in large blocks of flats usually at least five or six storeys high makes the work of the watch»man relatively simple. The house porter, unlike his unfortunate colleague in France, is free of all responsibility for the comings and goings .of the occupants of his house while the “serene” is on duty.

In some Spanish towns the “sereno” wears a typical uniform, but in Madrid a flat-topped hat is his only official disttincion. He ranks, however, as belonging to the “armed forces,” and two years’ imprisonment is the minimum punishment for even the slightest assault on his person. His presence in the streets avoids the necessity for police patrols, and Madrid is probably the only capital in Europe whose streets are not regularly patrolled by policemen throughout the night.