National Police Corps (Spain)

National Police Corps
Cuerpo Nacional de Policía
Seal of the National Police Corps of Spain
Seal of the National Police Corps of Spain
Badge of the National Police Corps of Spain
Badge of the National Police Corps of Spain
Flag of the National Police Corps of Spain
Flag of the National Police Corps of Spain
Common namePolicía Nacional
AbbreviationCNP
Motto"Servicio, Dignidad, Entrega, Lealtad"
"Service, Dignity, Dedication, Loyalty"
Agency overview
Formed3 August 1939 (as Armed Police Corps)
4 December 1978 (formation of current service)
13 March 1986 (current law)
Preceding agencies
Jurisdictional structure
National agency
(Operations jurisdiction)
Spain
Operations jurisdictionSpain
Population47,435,597
Legal jurisdictionAs per operations jurisdiction
Governing bodyGovernment of Spain
Constituting instruments
General nature
Operational structure
Overseen byDirectorate-General of the Police
HeadquartersCalle Miguel Ángel, 5, 28039 Madrid, Community of Madrid, Spain
Officers74,458 in service (2023)
Minister responsible
Agency executive
Notables
Anniversary
  • October 2
Award
  • Order of Police Merit
Website
www.policia.es

The National Police Corps (Spanish: Cuerpo Nacional de Policía, CNP; [ˈkweɾpo naθjoˈnal de poliˈθi.a]; also known simply as the National Police, Policía Nacional)[1] is the national civilian police force of Spain. The CNP is mainly responsible for policing urban areas, whilst rural policing is generally the responsibility of the Civil Guard, the Spanish national gendarmerie force. The CNP operates under the authority of Spain's Ministry of the Interior. They mostly handle criminal investigation, judicial, terrorism and immigration matters. The powers of the National Police Corps varies according to the autonomous community. For example, the Ertzaintza and the Mossos d'Esquadra are the primary police agencies in the Basque Country and Catalonia, respectively. In Navarre they share some duties jointly with Policía Foral (Foruzaingoa).

  1. ^ Ley Orgánica 9/2015, de 28 de julio, de Régimen de Personal de la Policía Nacional (Ley 9) (in Spanish). 2015.