Law enforcement in Spain

Law enforcement in Spain is carried out by numerous organizations, not all of which operate in the same areas.

• The Guardia Civil (Civil Guard) is the national gendarmerie force and therefore has a military status. It patrols the entire national territory (including highways and ports), except for those areas that belong to the National Police, enforces customs duties and investigates crimes therein (78,000). They operate from garrison posts that are called Casas cuartel ("home-garrisons") which are both minor residential garrisons and fully equipped Police stations. Answers to both the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Defence.
• The Policía Nacional or Cuerpo Nacional de Policía (the National Police Corps, or CNP) has a civilian status and deals with criminal offences and public order in big towns and cities (65,000). It includes special anti-riot units. In some Autonomous Communities, autonomous police forces have taken over many of the CNP duties. Answers to the Ministry of Interior.
• The Policía Local or Policía Municipal (known as Urban Guard in the city of Barcelona) operate in most cities and important towns, concentrating on preventing crime, settling minor incidents, traffic control, and, crucially, intelligence gathering. Answers to the local governments (81,000).
• In some Autonomous Communities there is an autonomous police force, under the rule of the regional government, which carries out the duties of the Civil Guard and the National Police there. These police forces are the Troopers (Mossos d'Esquadra) in Catalonia (17.000), the Ertzaintza in the Basque Country (8,000), and the Chartered Police (Policía Foral or Foruzaingoa in Basque) in Navarre (1100). They answer to their respective autonomous governments. The Basque province of Alava retains Spain's oldest police force, the Miñones de Álava ^[es] ("Minions"), founded in 1793. Although now an integral division of the Basque Ertzaintza, it answers to the provincial government of Álava.
• Additionally, there is a "special administrative police" which is not under the Ministry of the Interior nor the Ministry of Defence, but the Ministry of the Treasury. The Customs Surveillance Service is responsible for the investigation and prosecution of cases involving contraband, illegal drugs, financial evasion and violations, money laundering, surveillance for financial police purposes, and the provision of judicial police services. Despite their civilian status, the officers are trained by both the National Police and the Navy Marines.

Locally, all enforcement agencies work together closely, and in serious matters, usually under the guidance of an examining magistrate. Operational policy and major interventions are nationally coordinated under the direction of the Ministry of the Interior.