Dismissal of Lleida's Police Commissioner Following Sexual Harassment Conviction

The Ministry of the Interior has announced the immediate dismissal of Antonio Royo Subías, the newly appointed provincial commissioner of the National Police in Lleida. This decision comes in light of Royo's conviction for sexual harassment and solicitation of a subordinate, which occurred in the Basque Country in 1999. Sources from the ministry, led by Fernando Grande-Marlaska, provided this information to Efe news agency, confirming reports from the newspaper Segre published earlier this week. The troubling history of Royo, who was a chief inspector at the time, dates back to his tenure in charge of a Police Intervention Unit (UIP) in San Sebastián. His misconduct was brought to light through a ruling by the Gipuzkoa Court, which was later upheld by the Supreme Court. The court's findings revealed that Royo had begun soliciting the victim for sexual relations shortly after he began his assignment. Reports describe a disturbing pattern of behavior where Royo promised favors such as special allowances, days off, and promotional opportunities contingent on the victim's compliance with his advances. Conversely, he threatened that refusal would lead to detrimental consequences for her career, potentially resulting in less favorable duties. One specific incident cited by the court involved Royo slapping the victim on the buttocks during a dinner with fellow officers in Pamplona, highlighting the unprofessional and inappropriate conduct exhibited by the officer. Following these revelations, the court imposed a fine of 1,080 euros on Royo and mandated he pay 3,000 euros in compensation to the harassed officer. Royo had only taken office as the provincial commissioner of Lleida on December 9, underscoring how quickly the impact of past actions can reverberate through a professional career. His dismissal serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of such behavior within law enforcement and reflects a broader societal stance against harassment and misconduct in the workplace. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2