In October 2023, Pedro Sanchez and Yolanda Diaz They staged before the cameras the signing of an agreement to reissue the coalition government. A pact that included, among many other items, removing the ghosts of the so-called by many “gag law”. It must be remembered that PSOE and Podemos already tried, without success, to reform the Citizen Security Law during the previous legislature. At that time, the union of the agents and their protests prevented it from going ahead.
Well, after months of inaction, Sumar was not willing to let this remain in the trunk of memories and on May 10, he presented an Organic Law Proposal to “amputate that norm and adapt it” to a model of citizen security in which the police are left the role of “mediators.” And in the opinion of the Spanish Police Confederation (CEP), this political formation does not want police officers but “a kind of tea room diplomats or social mediators.” This is a “provocation” that disregards the “physical and legal security” of the agents, even more so when the number of attacks on police officers and civil guards exceeds a thousand per month.
Because for the agents, this proposal represents an attack on their main regulatory work tool: “They do not care about the detrimental effects on coexistence, civility and public order. And of course, They don't care what those of us who risk our lives think. every day to protect the lives and property of others,” they denounce.
Physical risk for police officers
But what is Sumar proposing now? For a start rescues a payment formula for “a la carte fines”, or what is the same, allowing the sanctions for violation of this Organic Law to be suspended (depending on the economic situation of the fined), divided or even replaced by rehabilitation measures. And if this were not enough, they also intend reduce the amounts of these fines, so “taking the street is cheaper,” they warn from this police union. Thus, according to the proposal, they would go from the minimum of 30,001 euros for very serious cases to 25,001 and would lower minor cases, which would go from the current maximum of 600 euros to 500. “
It also once again calls into question the “veracity and probative value” of the agents' testimonies and requires that they only be taken into account if “the presentation of the facts recorded is coherent, logical and reasonable.” Not to mention that this controversial law establishes that Recording the agents during the performance of their work will not constitute an infringement. Specifically, it contemplates the elimination from the legal system of the prohibition of disseminating images of agents of the State Security Forces and Corps without prior authorization. Unauthorized use of these images may only be sanctioned when “generates a certain danger to your personal or family safety”. Of course, this risk “must be verifiable and reflected with reasons in the minutes or in the complaint, and with as much detail as possible.”
Persecution and harassment
An endless number of obstacles to the objective, denounced by the CEP, leave them “more unprotected and vulnerable” and open the door to “impunity of campaigns of pointing out, harassment and persecution” against them. And the list of proposals to torpedo police work seems to have no end. For example, drug possession and consumption would go from serious to minor infractions and the drug intervention act will have to enjoy a “presumption of veracity”.
The identification of suspects must be “motivated and proportional” and the transfer, for identification purposes in no case may it exceed two hours, except for justified, verifiable reasons communicated to the affected person, in which case it will be extended to six hours. And in matters of identification, Agents must identify themselveswith the threat of applying the disciplinary regime if they refused, a measure that makes no sense since it is currently applied.
“In the face of this new attack on the conditions in which we do our work, We do not expect anything from the Interior“, they say from the CEP. Firstly, because the head of this portfolio, Fernando Grande-Marlaska has already shown his intention to undertake this “reform”. And secondly, because “we police officers have never been called simply to listen to our opinion”, which reinforces the collective conflict that this union has had with the Interior since last April 10. Likewise, after the massive police demonstration on March 16, the CEP did not attend meetings with the General Directorate of the Police.