A gallery of images of the illegal street market at the Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes, Barcelona.

The market sells a mix of collected rubbish and most likely stolen items, and at its peak can have as many as 30 to 50 traders present. It forms part of a criminal system that spans from minor crimes such as petty theft through to more serious concerns such as drug dealing, prostitution and criminal theft, damage and usurpación that has badly affected local residents such as ourselves. The traders here represent very much the bottom of this food chain, and are people for whom the distinction between criminal and victim are likely blurred as they are exploited by others higher up the chain.

The council and police are currently trying to disrupt this activity. However, police resources are scarce and the market re-appears as soon as the police leave. Somehow a more permanent solution must be found – otherwise the new park that is currently being constructed in the square will simply become a no-go area of drugs and stolen goods.