Spanish Public Security and Emergency Coordination System Law: Key Provisions

Public Security and Emergency Coordination System

Title I, Chapter 1 and 2 (preliminary provisions): Public administrations shall configure systems for security and emergencies, guided by principles of efficiency and administrative coordination of police forces.

The Public Security Coordination System (SCSE) must be resourced with information on police activities. It must be compatible, reliable, and must notify police forces and enable coordination among local bodies.

Competent authorities (CAC): The CAC holds competences in civil protection at the state and administrative levels.

General Provisions

Article 1: Objectives

The objective is to order the competences of the CAC in public security and to organize the security system. Public administrations and citizens shall jointly ensure reciprocal security, through collaboration, cooperation, and coordination.

Article 2: Public Administration Actions

Public administrations shall:

• Conduct risk analysis studies and identify conflicts affecting the rights and freedoms of persons.
• Adopt prevention measures and protection to avoid damage that may alter public security.
• Coordinate and collaborate on security matters.
• Ensure the delivery of information and transparency toward citizens and the media, with respect for confidentiality.

Article 3: Institutional Coordination

Between police forces and other bodies, and during emergencies, state, regional, and local governments shall coordinate their actions.

Article 4: Citizens' Rights in Security and Emergencies

State governments shall guarantee the confidentiality of actions and protect the privacy and intimacy of persons. Citizens have the right to participate in security policy through associations, to receive public information that is truthful and detailed through periodic reports, to direct complaints and petitions to authorities, and to be informed of the efficiency of recognized actions in security and emergency matters, as well as information on risks.

Article 5: Duties

Public administrations shall meet and collaborate with the law enforcement and civil protection authorities.

Security and Emergency System Framework

Article 6: Key Concepts

Key concepts include public security, emergencies, civil protection, and local police attention to emergencies and civil protection.

Article 7: Basic Principles

The Public Security Coordination System is based on:

• Prevention of insecurity through citizen participation and association for crime prevention.
• Cooperation between state and municipal administrations to coordinate these actions and adapt their activities to citizens' needs.
• Effectiveness and efficiency of security and emergency actions.

Article 8: Competent Bodies

State government holds security competences, including general planning, administrative organization, strategic planning, execution, and control.

Article 9: Public Security Council

The Public Security Council is the interdepartmental body of the state government that coordinates and organizes the maximum public security policy in accordance with regulations.

Article 16: Functions of the Council

The Public Security Council coordinates the actions of different departments, integrates security policies, informs the public about security, and monitors results.

Article 17: Support and Follow-Up

The state government provides legal and psychological support to local police officers.

Article 18: Other Bodies

The Council may serve as a technical and consultative body for local police boards and regional committees.

Training, Research, and Information

Article 20: Training

Public administrations, with state coordination, promote training programs, with academia participating in training members of local and regional security forces.

Article 21: Security Research

The state government fosters studies on crime and the dissemination of crime prevention knowledge.

Article 22: Programs

Public administration programs shall provide information for public security.

Article 23: Information Exchange

An exchange of information between state bodies and administrations is established.

Article 24: Annual Report

The state government publishes an annual report on public security.

Emergency System

Article 25: Emergency Coordination

Public administrations coordinate the emergency concept, and guidelines help control emergency actions.

Article 26: Basic Principles of the Emergency System

• Public administration and self-protection
• Risk prevention
• Coordination and decentralization
• Proximity and immediate action
• Solidarity
• Integration of risk assessment, emergency plans, and resources
• Complementarity
• Proportionality
• Respect for rights and freedoms

Article 27: Public Administration Objectives

Public administrations shall:

• Conduct studies to evaluate risk situations affecting people and property.
• Implement prevention measures to avoid or reduce risks.
• Plan effective actions through their organizations and techniques.
• Coordinate intervention and response to emergencies, correct them, and manage alert systems.
• Provide training to civil protection personnel and inform citizens about possible risks affecting them.