Police in Spain

There are three main types of policía (Police) in Spain: 

• The Policía Nacional
• The Policía Local (also known as Policía Municipal).
• Guardia Civil

Policía Nacional

This force covers cities and bigger towns and is the main crime-fighting body because most crime happens on its patch. Those who wear uniforms are in blue. There is also a large contingent in plain clothes, some of whom form special squads dealing with drugs, terrorism and the like.

Most of them though will be found in comisarías, shuffling masses of paper dealing with things such as issuing passports, DNIs (identity documents) and residence cards for foreigners.

Policía Local

Sometimes known as the Policía Municipal, this force is controlled by city and town councils and deals mainly with minor matters such as parking, traffic and bylaws. They wear blue-and-white uniforms.

In Catalunya the equivalent force is called the Guardia Urbana.

Spain has no real equivalent of the ‘bobby on the beat’ street-patrol police.

Guardia Civil

The main responsibilities of the green-uniformed members of the Guardia Civil are roads, the countryside, villages, prisons, international borders and some environmental protection. The Guardia Civil was set up in the 19th century to quell banditry but soon came to be regarded as a politically repressive force that clamped down on any challenge to established privilege.

Although its image has softened since responsibility for it has been switched from the defence ministry to the interior ministry, it is still a military body in some ways: most officers have attended military academy and members qualify for military decorations.

Regional Police

 Four of Spain’s 17 autonomous communities have their own police forces in addition to the above three: Catalunya (where it’s called the Mossos d’Esquadra), the Basque Country (the Ertzaintza), Valencia and Galicia.

Contacting the Police

Anywhere in Spain you can call 091 for the Policía Nacional or 092 for the Policía Local. Guardia Civil numbers vary from place to place, although often you can reach them on 062. The local emergency number for the Costa Blanca is 112

Other useful numbers

1002 - Telephone Technical assistance (Telefonica)

11818 - Directory Enquiries

1004 - Operator Services

1008 – Operator assisted calls

11825 – Directory Enquiries International

091 - Police National

092 – Police Local