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The supreme command of the Spanish National Police is held by the Minister of the Interior, through the figure of the Secretary of State for Security. Direct command is exercised by the Directorate General for the Police, under the authority of the said Secretary of State for Security.

The generic denomination of Spanish National Police is assigned to all career officers of the National Police.

The Spanish National Police is an armed institution, civil in nature, which presents a hierarchical structure and has the mission of protecting the free exercise of citizens’ rights and liberties, and of guaranteeing their security. Its scope of action is the whole of the national territory.

  • Citizens’ cooperation

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    If you need immediate support, dial the emergency number 091.

    If you have any information on the planning or perpetration of an offence, or if you are the victim of a crime, you must contact the National Police.

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    Please help us find these persons

    Wanted people Missing people

  • Safe-Tourism Plan

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    The main goal of the “Safe-Tourism Plan” is to permanently increase citizen security at touristic areas, and to provide tourists with a safer environment during their stay in our country. It also aims at supporting and actively contributing to the actions taken in this sector by the Spanish Government and the Regional and Local Administrations, and seeks to foster the Spanish tourism sector and to cooperate in accomplishing a higher level of competitiveness, by establishing cooperation among all public and private institutions which take part in the sector.

    Tourist Attention Service (SATE)

    The general aim of the SATE (Tourist Attention Service) is to assist victims of offences or infringements, in their own language, providing them with advice on the procedure and the handling of documents relating to the facts in question (cancelling of credit cards and documents, contact with embassies and consulates, communication with or location of relatives, etc.).

    Please be aware of the following when you are on holiday:


      • In your vehicle

        During the journey to your holiday destination, maximize safety measures concerning your vehicle and belongings and do not stop if an unknown person asks you to do so.

        Avoid leaving valuable items at sight, or inside the vehicle.

    • If you use public transport

      • Do not check in unknown persons' luggage in your name.
      • Identify your belongings before checking them in.
      • Avoid travelling with large amounts of cash.
      • Do not entrust anybody who is not duly authorised with transporting your luggage.
      • On trains or buses, watch your luggage at all times, particularly at stops.

    • At your hotel or apartment

      • Do not leave any money or valuable items at sight. If possible, use a safe. If you are not a Spanish national, also consider leaving your ID documents in the safe and carrying a legally certified photocopy of your ID card or passport with you.
      • Watch your luggage and personal items in common areas.

    • In public places

      • Take care of your belongings in crowded spaces (street markets, spectacles, beaches, swimming pools, etc.).
      • Avoid making a public show of valuable items or belongings.
      • Avoid gambling in the streets.
      • Beware of suspicious offers (being warned about a stain on a garment or about vehicle breakdowns, etc.).
      • When parking, try to choose crowded and well-lit spaces and those which are within the surveillance cameras' viewing area.

  • Family and Women Assitance Unit

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    Our Family and Women Assistance Units are the National Police units specialised in the prevention and investigation of criminal offences which relate to gender-based, domestic and sexual violence. Thus, our units specialise in combating the following:

    Family and Women Assistance Units: we are specialised units for fighting against:

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    • Gender-based violence

      It is the violence inflicted by a man against a woman. There needs to exist, or have existed in the past, an emotional relationship between them, and it is not necessarily just physical violence, but can also be psychological or sexual.

      "Violence against women is a manifestation of historically unequal power relations between women and men, which have led to domination over, and discrimination against, women by men and to the prevention of the full advancement of women" (Istanbul Convention 2011).

      "It is the violence inflicted against women just because they are women, since, in their aggressor's view, they lack the basic rights of freedom, respect and and decision-making capacity" (Organic Act 1/2004).

    • Domestic violence

      It is the violence inflicted in the family enviroment, against children by their parents, against parents by their children, against men by women, between same-gender individuals, against elderly people and against others living in the same dwelling.

    • Sexual violence

      It occurs when somebody is forced to adopt an unwanted sexual behaviour. There may be different typologies for sexual violence: rape, harassment, fondling, indecent exposure before minors, etc.

    We are an all-encompassing police service working in the field of family and women at national level. We rely on specialised staff with the capacity to assist, listen to and understand all the victims.

    • We receive the complaint, investigate and provide the protection that victims need.
    • Even if the person has not decided whether to file a complaint or not, we facilitate information on the process and on the resources which may provide him / her with support.
    • The victim may be accompanied by the person of his / her choice at all times.
    • We have sign and foreign language interpreters for those who need them.
    • We are aware of the likely needs of individuals with disabilities.

    We endeavour to coordinate with other institutions (social and health services, other law-enforcent agencies, victim-assistance offices, associations and NGOs, etc.).

    Mission

    Our Family and Women Assistance Units are the National Police units specialised in the prevention and investigation of criminal offences which relate to gender-based, domestic and sexual violence.

    In our effort to place victims at the core of the system and to provide them with an integrated police support, we include in our tasks, under the same command and parallel to the investigations, the assistance and protection facilitated by this unit in coordination with the other institutions involved.

    Vision

    We intend to be a benchmark in the field of women, family and minors, both nationally and internationally, with our highly specialised staff being close to the victims and providing them with recognised high-quality attention.

    Values

    • Integrated police assistance: prevention, investigation, protection and victim assistance.
    • Empathy with victims and social sensitivity.
    • Gender perspective.
    • Tolerance and respect towards diversity.
    • Commitment and support to persons with disabilities.
    • Social awareness.
    • Proximity-approach specialisation.
    • Inter-agency coordination and cooperation.
    • Professionalism and versatility.

    If you need any general information on gender-based, domestic or sexual violence, or if you wish to report any type of information*, contact us through:

    atencionfamiliaymujer@policia.es

    If you need to file a complaint or if your require personalised assistance, please go to your nearest police station.

  • Human trafficking

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    Human trafficking is one of the 21st Century’s forms of slavery, and it is one of the most widespread types of crimes – involving the movement of the largest sums of money throughout the world, after drugs and weapons’ trafficking. Every time this crime is committed, a person’s human rights are violated outright, and it is not only the person’s freedom and dignity being demolished, but the person’s physical and emotional integrity are also destroyed.

    Human trafficking victims are usually vulnerable people, mainly women, children and men in precarious physical or financial situations, who are used to discrimination and do not tend to offer resistance.

    “Human Trafficking” may be defined as “the recruitment, transport, transfer, hosting or reception of persons by resorting to threats or to the use of force or other forms of coercion, or by means of kidnapping, fraud, deception, abuse of power or of a vulnerable situation, or by the granting or receipt of payments or benefits aimed at obtaining the consent of a person with authority over other persons, for exploitation purposes. As a minimum, exploitation may originate in prostitution and in other forms of sexual exploitation, including pornography, forced labour or services, slavery or similar practices, servitude or begging, criminal activities and the removal of body organs”.

    Human trafficking is a serious criminal offence and it represents a major violation of a person’s dignity and freedom, in addition to being a form of serious crime.

    If you suspect that human trafficking is being perpetrated in Spain, please get in contact through our:

    Wie kann man Menschenhandel erkennen?

    The complexity and diversity of the human trafficking phenomenon makes it impossible to have a single and well-defined formula for establishing if a person is a victim of such trafficking. These persons are held as slaves through a combination of force, coercion and intimidation. They have been deceived on the work, the trip, the living conditions, the status, the legal documents or the treatment they will receive. These persons are transferred from one place to another by the traffickers in order to prevent their gaining self-confidence or having connections with persons who are outside the network. By means of coercion, they are forced not to report their situation to the law-enforcement agencies, to the state’s institutions and establishments (health centres, asylum offices, etc.), or to the NGO’s which might come into contact with them. They live in permanent fear and under the constant threat of violence being used against them or their families.

    Thus, victims of human trafficking lead a life which is marked by abuse, the violation of their human rights and the constant scrutiny exercised by their traffickers. Therefore, despite the fact that each victim’s experience may be different, there are certain behaviours or situations which, to a greater or lesser extent, are common to all of them and make it possible to detect the existence of human trafficking by means of specific signs.

    The following is a list of indicators which may be of help to those persons who, for whatever reason, might, in carrying out their duties, encounter a human-trafficking victim.

    • Victims of human trafficking in general.
    • Victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation purposes.
    • Victims of human trafficking for labour exploitation purposes.
    • Specific indicators related to children who are victims of human trafficking.

    How can human trafficking be detected?

    The most important procedure to follow in order to help victims of human trafficking is to alert the authorities. Anyone can report the existence of human trafficking; do not turn a blind eye: PLEASE REPORT IT. Together we can make it. With your help, we can provide victims with comprehensive assistance which covers all their needs to the maximum extent possible.

    • Healthcare and psychological assistance.
    • Legal advice provided in their language or in a language they can understand.
    • Protection and security.
    • Safe accommodation.

    Places where they can be found.
    Victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation purposes are frequently in the streets or in stablishments which offer sexual services such as:
    • Strip clubs and bars.
    • Pornography-producing business .
    • Massage rooms.
    • Escort-girl companies .

    Victims of human trafficking for labour exploitation constitute a more heterogeneous group and are mainly found in the realms of agriculture, construction, housekeeping services and illegal industries such us drugs or arms trafficking. Although the majority of the victims are women and children, there are also many men who are victims of this type of slavery. These cases can be found in:
    • Factories and clothing workshops in which workers are under abusive conditions
    • Collection and processing of agricultural products
    • Housekeeping workers, nannies, etc.
    • Construction
    • Catering

    It is important not to consider these two types of trafficking – sexual and labour exploitation, as two completely different categories, since there may be victims who are exploited for sexual and labour purposes at the same time. General indicators
    Although the following indicators are not sufficient factors for determining if we are faced with a case of trafficking, they may indicate that the person in question is being controlled by one – or more – persons, and therefore their situation must be investigated more in depth.
    • Lack of identity (passport, in particular) and immigration documents (visas, residence permits, etc.). Cases of forged documents may also occur.
    • Lack or scarcity of money, without any control by the victim; traffickers control all financial aspects.
    • Impossibility of transferring to other places or giving up their work.
    • Payment of an excessive amount for their trip, which is normally paid back as debt.
    • Social isolation: limitation of contacts with other persons; establishment of measures aimed at surveilling contacts or guaranteeing that contacts are only superficial ones.
    • Impossibility for or difficulty in communicating in the language of the country in which the victim is located, especially in cases of long stays in a country.
    • Verbal or psychological abuse aimed at intimidating, degrading or terrorising the victim.

    Indicators of the victims’ return
    • Extreme security measures in the establishment in which the victim “works”, including bars over the windows, reinforced doors, insulation, electronic surveillance, etc. Victims are never seen leaving the premises, unless they are escorted.
    • Victims live in the establishment in which they “work” – a brothel or prostitution club, or are transported from their dwellings to their place of work under surveillance.
    • Victims are kept under surveillance when they are in public, especially when taken to see a doctor, or to a hospital or clinic, for treatment. Likewise, one of the traffickers often acts as a translator.

    Non-verbal behavioural indicators
    • Victims are reluctant or unwilling to speak, and it is quite obvious that they are lying or acting on other persons’ instructions.
    • They have a neglected appearance, and show traces of ill-treatment (bruises or other signs of beating, traces of having been raped or sexually abused, cuts, welts, burns).
    • They seem to be anxious, fearful and/or especially vulnerable or impressionable.
    • They are extremely nervous; in particular, if a companion who is in a position to act as a “translator”, and is the trafficker or forms part of the criminal network, is present in the interview or the interaction with third parties

    Verbal indicators which might appear during the interview.
    • They may provide evasive answers or show fear, especially if their “translator”, the person who might be their trafficker or part of the criminal network, is present during the interview.

    Indicators in the victim’s physical health.
    • Malnutrition, dehydration and lack of personal hygiene.
    • Infections and sexually-transmitted diseases.
    • Bruises, broken bones or other signs of untreated problems.
    • Signs of rape or sexual abuse.
    • Serious diseases, including diabetes, cancer or heart diseases which have not been treated.
    • Visible signs of cuts, bruises, burns.
    • Bad health conditions in general.

    Indicators in the victim’s phychological health.
    Victims of trafficking for sexual or labour exploitation purposes frequently suffer psychological alterations which may, as the case may be, result in: mood disorders, acute stress or serious psychological disorders. Among these, it is worth mentioning anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress, phobias, panic attacks and depression. Indicators of these alterations or disorders are mainly the following:
    • Post-traumatic stress or psychological alterations (trauma, depression, anxiety), personality disorders, adjustment disorder, disorders in connection with drug, alcohol or amnesic medication addiction, disintegrative disorders, sleep disorder.
    • The main symptoms or manifestations can be: headache, sleep alterations, frequent disturbances, hand tremor, nervous or preoccupied appearance, frequent wailing, difficulty in having clear ideas, the person believes he / she is not a worthy person, lack of interest in things, thoughts of suicide, generalised fatigue, discomfort in the stomach, addiction to toxic substances and alcohol.

    Specific medical indicators for victims of trafficking for sexual-exploitation purposes.
    • Forcible medical procedures, such as performing an abortion or a pregnancy test against the victim’s will and through the use of coercion.
    • Infections and sexually-transmitted diseases.
    • Sexual abuse or rape.

    Indicators based on the victim’s age in cases of sexual exploitation.
    • At pre-school age: somatisation disorder, regressions and sexualisation of the behaviour.
    • Between 6 and 12: low self-esteem, problems at school, sleep disorders, psycho-somatic reactions, abdominal pain.
    • Adolescents: low self-esteem, running away from home, depression, pregnancies, self-mutilations, aggressiveness and isolation.
    • Adults: Denial of the abuse experienced for years. Memories may emerge with the first pregnancy, by strong mood alterations, suicidal ideas or feelings of rage and retaliation against the abuser. The remembrance may be kept repressed until the son / daughter is the same age as the victim was when the first abuse occurred, and there is the possibility that the victim might turn into an abuser.

    There is a debt-based servitude and, with victims being under pressure for enforcing such servitude or state an honour-based commitment to enforce it.
    • The victim shows wounds corresponding to hard or dangerous work (scars, chronic health problems, back problems, hearing loss, eye problems, breathing problems, cardiovascular conditions or even amputation of limbs).
    • According to different sources of information, forced begging is very frequent in cases of children trafficking, followed by trafficking for sexual-exploitation purposes.

    Emotional problems: depression, anxiety, isolation, excessive fantasies, regressive behaviours, lack of emotional control, repeated and varied phobias, psychosomatic problems or emotional lability, extreme feelings of guilt or shame.
    • Behavioural problems: aggressions, flights, criminal behaviours, excessive use of alcohol and drugs, self-destructive behaviours or suicide attempts.
    • Sexual behavioural indicators: inappropriate sexual behaviours (compulsive masturbation, oral-genital touch, sexually-alluring behaviour, sexual assaults on other children or peers), degree of sexual knowledge or comments which does not correspond to the victim’s age.
    • Problems in cognitive development: speech delay, attention problems, academic failure, social withdrawal, reduced performance, non-organic growth retardation, frequent accidents, slow psychomotricity or hyperactivity.
    • Physical indicators: difficulty in walking or sitting, injuries, lacerations, bruises on sexual organs, redness of the anal and genital area, infections on the genital and urinary area, venereal diseases, presence of sperm, pregnancy, manifest defecation difficulties, enuresis, encopresis.
    • Due to malnutrition, growth-related health problems: low height for the victim’s age, malformation or dental decay, under-development of adolescents’ reproductive system.