Foral Police of Navarre

The Foral Police of Navarra (in Basque, Nafarroako Foruzaingoa) is the autonomous police force of the Foral Community of Navarra, in Spain. It was created by the Navarra Provincial Council in 1928, initially under the name of Cuerpo de Policía de Carreteras. The head of the Corps is Commissioner Juan Carlos Zapico, and currently has 1,076 agents (2016).

History of the Provincial Police

Background

The Foral Police of Navarra is a relatively modern institution and has few precedents in the past, but since the Middle Ages the existence of institutions in Navarra that performed police functions has been known: merinos, wardens, provosts, admirals, dances, juries, Brotherhood, etc.

It was created by the Provincial Council of Navarra on October 30, 1928, with the aim of acting as highway police, monitoring traffic and inspecting provincial taxes.

Initially it was dedicated to the control of vehicle traffic on the roads of Navarra (traffic monitoring and management was the responsibility of the Navarre Provincial Council since its creation in 1841, by succession in the powers that the old Provincial Council had had Kingdom of Navarra; these powers have been preserved by virtue of said reduction of the charter of 1841).

On January 24, 1941, the Provincial Council approved the regulations of the "Highway Police Corps and Excise Collectors", although the union of the two corps into one It would never be carried out in a complete way, since it was divided into two sections that tended to continue functioning autonomously.

By an agreement of December 11, 1951, the Provincial Council ordered the full separation of the Highway Police and Excise Collectors, acknowledging that in practice it had become clear that the two sections, roads and collection, were independent, heterogeneous in fact and without a necessary unity, for which reason the Highway Corps would come to depend on the Roads Directorate.

In 1954 and due to the age requirements of some of its members, two groups were created in the Corps: the Highway Police and a second called the "Auxiliary Corps", which would monitor the Pamplona bus station and would process complaints.

In 1958 and due to the increase in traffic on the roads of Navarra, a new structure was carried out that would provide it with a greater number of members and means.

Following the approval by the Spanish Courts of the project to regulate competencies in matters of traffic, members of the Traffic Group of the Civil Guard would be sent to Navarre in 1960 in order to carry out this mission, for which reason the Corps The Highway Police would only be authorized to intervene in the matter of transport, subjecting the rest of the actions in the matter of traffic to the Civil Guard.

From Highway Police to Provincial Police

Car of the Foral Police with the new rotulation.

Foral Police Car.

In 1964, the Provincial Council reorganized the Highway Police Corps, changing its name to "Policía Foral de Navarra" and becoming directly dependent on the Vice President of the Provincial Council. At the same time, its functions were significantly increased, attributing to it the power to regulate traffic (in collaboration with the Civil Guard), as well as the ability to ensure compliance with all the jurisdictional provisions of the Provincial Council. In 1966, the body's personnel exceeded twenty people for the first time.

With this renewal, the Foral Police became a Police Corps with generic functions of surveillance, protection and execution, a civilian armed police force (regulated by the 1941 Regulations and the general provisions of civil servants of the Deputation).

From that date, the functions were diversified, and thus it would take charge of the protection of the buildings dependent on the Provincial Council, the coordination of the ambulances, the custody of the banking entities of the Caja de Ahorros de Navarra, the protection of personalities and the issuance of permits for special transport, among other functions.

After the restoration of democracy, the Improvement Law (which in Navarra fulfills the functions of the "Autonomy Statute" of the other Autonomous Communities) was promulgated after the entry into force of the LOAPA in 1981, which in practice meant that the Foral Police could not be fully constituted like the Basque (Ertzaintza) or Catalan (Mozos de Escuadra) police, whose Statutes predate LOAPA.

Until 1985, a new organic restructuring of the Provincial Police did not take place, in which the staff was once again expanded: some of the functions it carried out (ambulances and surveillance at the bus station) and new ones are assumed, such as the control of the game and public shows.

Subsequently, and through the approval of the Organic Law 2/1986 of March 13, on Security Forces and Bodies (which refers to the Improvement of Jurisdiction), no novelties were introduced in the regime of the Foral Police, only the functions attributed to the regional police, within which the Provincial Police may expand its previous functions.

It has diversified its functions, especially after the approval of the Ley Foral de Cuerpos de Policía de Navarra of 1987.

Today, although it is in the process of being developed, together with that of Catalonia (Mozos de Escuadra), that of the Basque Country (Ertzaintza) and the General Corps of the Canary Islands Police, it is one of the four regional police forces that exist in Spain integrating its entire creation process, since there are other regional police forces that are formed by assigning members of the National Police Corps.

Transfer of exclusive traffic jurisdiction

When the Civil Guard seized jurisdiction over traffic from the Provincial Police in 1964, both the Provincial Police themselves and the Government of Navarre protested against their withdrawal. Starting in the 1980s, there was a "shared management" of the competition, by which both bodies assumed it jointly. However, it was the Provincial Police which, despite having less troops, carried out more actions provided for by this competence. During the 2000s, all the parties in the Parliament of Navarra were in favor of the complete transfer of traffic functions to the Government of Navarra, to be assumed exclusively by the Foral Police. In 2002, the Unión del Pueblo Navarro government chaired by Miguel Sanz made its own parliamentary demand, demanding its transfer to the state. For this, it was proposed to establish a gateway for all the civil guards who provided the traffic function and who wanted to continue carrying out said function, so that they could be integrated into the Provincial Police. The rest would be relocated to other provinces or to other areas within Navarra.

Despite the refusal of the Spanish government, and that the transfer was already made in 1983 to the Basque Country and Catalonia between the years 1998 (province of Gerona) 1999 (Province of Lérida) 2000 (Provinces of Barcelona and Tarragona). successive UPN executives continued to insist on it, describing it as "irrenounceable." Barkos announced on October 31, 2018 that the Navarrese and Spanish governments had reached an agreement to transfer the competence of Traffic and Road Safety to Navarra. The Spanish State then promised to name its representatives for the mixed transfer commission before December 2018 and to be able to start negotiations in 2019, but the call for early elections in January 2019 frustrated all hope for the Navarrese leader, since, in the words of the then Government Delegate, "there is no material time" 3. 4; to carry it out in four months in office. However, and despite the anger of the majority of the Navarrese parties, this time there was no unanimity to demand the transfer of the competition again: UPN distanced itself from the rest of the parties, running against the transfer they always defended.

After the 2019 elections, the command of the Government of Navarra passed to the socialist María Chivite, although she included members of the former Barkos executive in her government. The demand for traffic continued to be one of the main themes. Initially, the Mixed Transfer Commission was announced for April 2020, which would make the transfer possible, but this was first delayed to October 2020, then to March 2021, and finally to December 2021.

Throughout this process, and especially after the announcements of a meeting of the bilateral commission, the conservative parties in the Congress of Deputies, mainly the Popular Party, Ciudadanos and Vox, were against this transfer, announcing actions against if it was finally finished. They were joined by UPN, previously a defender of the transfer, emphasizing what they considered would be "the departure of the Civil Guard of Navarra", despite the fact that both parties had clarified on many occasions that the traffic police in the foral community represent 20% and that the Civil Guard has non-transferable powers to the regional police. The Government of Navarra explained that the process would be progressive (5 years) and that the traffic agents would have three options: be relocated to other communities and continue in the traffic area, be transferred to other areas within the Civil Guard in Navarra and be integrated into the Foral Police through a "gateway". Even so, the associations of civil guard representatives described the transfer as "exile" and they affirmed that they felt they were "bargaining currency", reproaching the Minister of the Interior for an alleged "lack of information", despite the fact that the regional government had already announced that the details would be disclosed after the transfer.

Current organization

Command Structure

Range badges in the Foral Police.

The supreme command of the Foral Police corresponds to the Government of Navarra, exercised through its president. The competent counselor (currently the counselor of the Interior) will exercise the superior direction of the body of the Foral Police of Navarra.

Within the Provincial Police there is a hierarchy that, by order of rank and insignia (usually placed on the left arm) that they present on the uniforms, will be the following (the denominations changed with the approval of Ley Foral 8/2007 that replace those of Provincial Decree 213/2002):

• Chief of the Foral Police, identified with three golden angles.
• Principal Commissioner (formerly called the officer), identified with two golden angles.
• Commissioner (formerly referred to as inspector), identified with a golden angle.
• Inspector (formerly called sub-inspector), identified with three white angles.
• Subinspector (formerly called sergeant), identified with two white angles.
• Agent first, (formerly referred to) identified with a white angle.
• Agent(formerly known as the police force)

Insignia							without badge
Spanish name	Chief of the Foral Police	Principal Commissioner	Commissioner	Inspector	Subinspector	Corporal	Agent
Name euskera	Foruzainburua	Komisario Nagusia	Komisarioa	Inspektorea	Inspektoreordea	Kaporala	Agenta

Areas and Divisions

The Provincial Police is structured, according to Provincial Decree 72/2016 of September 21, into four large hierarchical operational blocks:

• Area: function of superior direction. Directed by a chief sheriff, who receives the name of head of area.
• Division: tactical direction of specific areas of police activity. Directed by a Commissioner, who receives the name of division chief.
• Brigade: direct execution of police tasks. Directed by an inspector, who receives the name of brigade chief.
• Group: direct execution of specialized tasks. Directed by a sub-inspector, who receives the name of group chief.

The areas are five and in turn are subdivided into various divisions:

• General Inspection Area
  • General Technical Division
  • Internal Regime Division
  • Communication and Operational Liaison Division

• Area of Traffic and Road Safety
  • Road Safety Division
  • Division of Attacks and Research

• Internal Security Area and Administrative Police
  • Internal Security Division
  • Administrative Police Division

• Citizen Security Area
  • Citizen Prevention and Care Division
  • Authority Protection Division
  • Intervention Division

• Criminal Investigation Area
  • Judicial Police Division
  • Scientific Police Division
  • Information Division

The areas and divisions are central bodies in nature and will be located in Pamplona.

Police stations

Foral Police Stations and their areas of action.

The Police Stations have the nature of a territorial body and are made up of the Brigades and/or Groups located in a police zone. They are directed by Commissioners who will report to the Command Area. Currently, the Foral Police has seven Police Stations in Navarra:

• Pamplona, created by Order Foral 224/2006 of 1 June
• Tudela Commissariat, was the second police station in Navarre, which was inaugurated on 27 March 2002 at a cost of 5 million euros
• Tafalla Commissariat, created by Foral Order 265/2005 of 28 June
• Commissariat de Estella, created by Orden Foral 428/2006 of 11 December
• Sangüesa Police, created by Order Foral 156/2005 of 1 December
• Commissariat of Alsasua, created by Foral Order 429/2006 of 11 December
• Commissariat of Elizondo, created by Order Foral 427/2006 of 11 December

Budget

In 1998 it had 447 agents and its budget amounted to 14 million euros. In 2003 its cost was 24 million euros, In 2010 the cost is 53 million euros (source http:/ /www.navarra.es/home_es/Gobierno+de+Navarra/Accion+del+Gobierno/Presupuesto+y+gasto+Publico/presupuestos/).

Powers of the Provincial Police

The Provincial Police has the following powers regulated in Provincial Law 8/2007 of March 23 (replacing the previous Provincial Decree 213/2002 of October 14):

Vehicle of the Foral Police in front of the Palace of Navarre.

• Ensure citizen security and the peaceful exercise of public rights and freedoms and the protection of persons and property.
• Ensure compliance with the laws and other general provisions applicable in matters of competence of the Foral Community, as well as acts emanating from the institutional bodies of the Foral Community of Navarra, through the activities of inspection, denunciation and forcible execution.
• Ensure the protection and security of the authorities of the Foral Community.
• Ensure the protection and security of persons, buildings and installations dependent on the institutions of the Foral Community of Navarra and their instrumental entities.
• Ensure the normal functioning of the essential public services whose competence corresponds to the Foral Community of Navarra.
• The management of traffic within the territory of the Foral Community of Navarre, in accordance with the agreements on the delimitation of competences in the matter concluded with the State and in force at each time, unless they legally correspond to the Local Police.
• The conduct and inspection of transports, in accordance with the provisions of the legislation in force.
• To maintain and, where appropriate, to restore order and citizen security through interventions that are accurate, and in particular to monitor public spaces, protect and order demonstrations and maintain order in large concentrations.
• The protection and assistance of persons and property, especially in cases of accident and emergency, in accordance with the provisions and, where appropriate, civil protection plans.
• Instructing attested by traffic accidents, in the functional sphere of the letter f.
• Preventing criminal acts and conducting the necessary steps to prevent their commission.
• Judicial police, in cases and forms that signal the laws.
• Cooperation and collaboration with the local authorities of Navarra, whenever requested, in the manner determined by the applicable provisions.
• Cooperation and collaboration with other Security Forces and Corps in the cases provided for by law.
• Collaboration with all Security Forces and Corps in the collection, treatment and reciprocal supply of information of police interest.
• The inspection of private security companies operating in the territory of the Navarre Foral Community, as well as the control of their services and actions and of the means and personnel in their charge, in the terms established in the current legislation.
• Cooperation to the friendly resolution of private conflicts when required.
• Any others that attribute the laws to it and, in particular, those entrusted to the Security Corps of the Autonomous Communities.

Access to the status of Provincial Police

Evolution of the number of members

Evolution in members of the Foral Police.

The Provincial Police has considerably increased its workforce in recent years. At present there are more than 900 Provincial Police in active duty as civil servants. On November 26, 2007, 101 new agents belonging to the XVIII promotion of the Provincial Police were incorporated, with which the number of active Provincial Police exceeds the figure of 900 agents at this time.

On March 7, 2008, the call for 100 new positions for Provincial Police officers was published in BON Nº31 of the year 2008, which will correspond to the XIX promotion of said body. This new promotion should be operational by the end of October-November 2009.

On August 14, 2009, the call for 115 new positions for Police officers at the service of Navarra was published in BON Nº100 for the year 2009. This call is slightly different from the previous ones since it introduces the term Police of Navarra, since of the 115 positions, 111 are for Foral Police officers and 4 for various Local Police forces (in this case 3 for the Navarre town of Estella and 1 for the town of Tafalla). Likewise, this call implies important changes when it comes to evaluating the opposition with respect to the previous ones, and the reduction of heights approved in the Parliament of Navarra.

This wide deployment meets the need to assume new powers, improve the presence in all areas of Navarra and provide a better service to the citizen. The medium-term forecasts are to try to reach the figure of 1,200 active Provincial Police for the year 2011.

At the end of 2018, the number of troops was 1,090, and it is expected to increase by another 17 agents from the 2017 OPE who are currently in the training process.

Compensation and salary aspects

The salary of the Foral Police is fully regulated by law as they are public officials dependent on the Government of Navarra. In the case of the Provincial Police, the levels are of three types:

• Level A: Major Commissioners and Commissioners.
• Level B: inspectors and sub-inspectors
• Level C: Corps and police officers.

All wages and salaries are regulated by Provincial Decree 1/2005 of January 10. A regional police officer may collect the following items (but not others):

• Basic personal remuneration:
  • Initial release corresponding to the level.
  • Retribution corresponding to the degree.
  • Antiquity award.
• Supplementary remuneration:
  • Specific supplement.
  • Work complement.
  • Boss supplement.
• Other rewards:
  • Compensation for costs incurred on the basis of service.
  • Compensation for travel.
  • Compensation for forced transfer with change of residence.
  • Family help.
  • Overtime compensation.
  • Compensation for work on holiday.
  • Compensation for work at nighttime.
  • Compensation for participating in selection courts and for providing training courses.
  • Compensation for pre-paid remuneration above those derived from the application of these rules.

Unions

The Provincial Police has various union groups, according to their importance in number of votes received are the following:

• APF (Foral Police Professional Group)
• ELA (Eusko Langileen Alkartasuna)
• CSI-F (Central Sindical Independiente y de Funcionarios).
• CCOO (Working Commissions)
• UGT (General Workers' Union)
• AFAPNA (Agrupación de Funcionarios de la Administración Pública de Navarra)

Criticism

Despite being the police force that is best valued within the Foral Community of the four existing ones (Foral Police, Civil Guard, CNP and Local Police), it has received a series of both external and internal criticism, among them it is worth mentioning:

• The decoordination between this and other police officers in Navarre.

• The increase in private security in the public buildings of Navarre to replace the Foral Police, one of its historical tasks.

• Some actions have been criticized for being disproportionate or partisan, considering these sectors that there has been a "militarization" of the Foral Police. This criticism comes mostly from leftist groups and groups, with the majority of this opinion within the left abertzale.

• El 9 de noviembre de 2007, el Jefe de la Policía Foral D. Alfonso Fernández Díez, fue sustitucióndo en funciones por el Comisario Principal de la Policía Foral D. Juan José Salaberri Galbete. The replacement was due to the possible promotion of the head of the Foral Police within the NCP, a body that originally belonged to. Several trade unions within the Foral Police have criticized that he can carry out the promotion within the NPC, while at the same time he is the head of the Foral Police, for not having ceased in office, which could mean a duality of membership to two different administrations, prohibited in the Foral Act 8/2007. Subsequently with Royal Decree 102/2008 of 1 February, the regulation of selective and training processes in the National Police Corps was amended, allowing to participate in them to persons in special services, which was in which D. Alfonso Fernández Díaz was found to exercise the leadership of the Foral Police, however, it was approved three months after Fernandez agreed to the course.