Andorra's Banders Report Sharp Rise in Rural Enforcement Actions
Rural police in Andorra saw significant increases in violations for dangerous dogs, fishing, hunting, and environmental rules in 2025, driven by.
Key Points
- Dangerous dog violations surged to 69 reports from 45, mainly unmuzzled or off-leash animals.
- Fishing infractions rose to 61 from 39 with 1,506 inspections; hunting to 17 from 13.
- Unauthorized fires up to 15, off-road vehicles to 18; public calls hit 3,276.
- Outreach expanded: 78 trained in dog ownership, 1,000 students engaged, team grew to 20.
Andorra's rural police force, known as the *banders*, recorded a significant rise in enforcement actions last year across several areas, including animal control, hunting, fishing, and environmental regulations.
The most notable increase involved potentially dangerous dog breeds, with 69 infringement reports opened in 2025—up from 45 in 2024 and higher than any of the previous six years. Officials attribute the jump to more public complaints and greater awareness. Most violations stemmed from animals not wearing the required muzzle or being off-leash. Owners showed high compliance, with 65% accepting fines and qualifying for reductions.
To promote responsible ownership, the force held four training sessions attended by 78 people.
Hunting violations also rose modestly, from 13 reports in 2024 to 17, following 882 inspections. These largely involved minor breaches of the new hunting law related to chamois management plans. All but three offenders opted for reduced fines.
Fishing infractions saw a sharper increase, climbing from 39 to 61 amid more checks—from 1,106 to 1,506. Informational signs have been placed at Estany d'Engolasters, with plans for those at Tristaina in 2026.
Other enforcement included 15 cases of unauthorized fires (up from 10) and 18 for off-road motorized vehicles in natural areas (up from 10), driven by heightened public reporting.
Public demand for services grew, with 3,276 calls received—compared to 2,911 the prior year—and action taken in 67.5% of cases. Common issues involved hunting rules, Asian hornet sightings, and bear encounters.
The force also boosted outreach, engaging 1,000 students from Andorra's three education systems in training programs. Social media following expanded, serving as a key channel for public information. Six probationary agents completed training, bringing the team to 16 officers, three unit heads, a director, and an administrator.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: