Police Forces in Spain: Who’s Who in Uniform (and Who to Call)

If you’ve spent any time in Spain, you’ve probably noticed that not all police officers look the same — different uniforms, different cars, different vibes. That’s because Spain doesn’t have a single, unified police force. It operates on three levels: national, regional, and local. Here’s what you need to know about each one.

The National Level: Two Forces, Very Different Styles

At the national level, two distinct bodies share responsibility for law enforcement across the country.

• The Guardia Civil is Spain’s oldest police institution, founded in 1844 during the reign of Queen Isabel II. The Guardia Civil is a police agency with military nature, falling under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior, and also the Ministry of Defence. Officers wear a distinctive dark-green uniform and are primarily responsible for patrolling Spain’s highways and rural areas (excluding the Basque Country, Catalonia, and Navarre), as well as border security. It can also handle counter-terrorism, environmental protection, coastguard duties, and mountain rescue. You can find out more on their official website.
• The Policía Nacional operates on a very different footing. It is an armed civil force that deals with more serious crimes in urban areas — including sexual assaults, muggings, violent crime, drug offences, organised crime, and terrorism. Identifiable by their black uniforms, they also handle immigration matters, which is why expats and visitors often need to deal with them when applying for residency documents like the NIE or TIE card. To report a serious crime or contact the Policía Nacional, call 091. More info on their official site.

The Regional Level: A Few Exceptions Worth Knowing

Three autonomous communities — the Basque Country (Ertzaintza), Catalonia (Mossos d’Esquadra), and Navarre (Policía Foral) — have their own regional police forces that take on many of the functions of the Policía Nacional and Guardia Civil within their territories. The Mossos, for example, handle everything from petty theft to counter-terrorism in Catalonia. If you’re travelling or living in those regions, these are the forces you’re most likely to deal with for anything beyond a minor local matter.

The Canary Islands also have their own force, the Policía Canaria, which works alongside the national forces on the islands.

The Local Level: Policía Local

The Policía Local, dressed in blue uniforms, are attached to and recruited by local town halls. They operate in municipalities with a population of over 5,000 people. In most places they’re called Policía Local, but in Madrid they go by Policía Municipal, and in Barcelona you’ll see the Guardia Urbana. These are the officers you’re most likely to encounter day-to-day. They handle minor crimes, traffic, noise complaints, parking, and local bylaws. To reach the local police, call 092.

So Who Do You Call?

In any emergency, dial 112 — the main emergency number, available 24/7, free of charge, and with multilingual operators. For serious crime, call 091 (Policía Nacional). For local issues, call 092 (Policía Local). If you’re unsure, 112 will direct you to the right service.