Ávila (EFE).- The Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, referred this Friday to the National Police as a “colossal collective work” that on January 12 will celebrate two centuries of life, during which it has become in an institution “essential for the welfare and security of Spain.
Grande-Marlaska made this statement during the speech he offered at the Ávila National Police School in front of more than 15,000 people, on the occasion of the swearing-in or promise of office of the XXXVII Basic Scale Promotion of this body, made up of 2,377 agents: 1,607 men and 770 women.
Like last year, the act has started with some beeps and shouts of “get out!” directed towards the head of the Interior upon receiving the baton, which have been interrupted when the national anthem is played.
emotional tribute
The jura, which has subsequently developed normally, has had an emotional tribute to Jordi Duart Olmos, who on April 1 died in an accident when he was going to the Usera-Villaverde district police station, in Madrid, where he carried out the practices.
His parents, María del Carmen and Jordi, have received a plaque from the Minister of the Interior amidst the ovation of the relatives and the new agents.
Among the attendees was the president of the Castilla y León Parliament, Carlos Pollán, and the general director of the Police, Francisco Pardo, who received Fernando Grande-Marlaska at the police facilities.
two centuries of life
During his speech, the head of the Interior referred to the 200 years that the National Police will celebrate on January 12, thus becoming a bicentennial institution that is the result of “a colossal collective work”, until it becomes an “indispensable for the welfare and security of Spain”.
“The history of the National Police is written day by day by its men and women,” commented Fernando Grande-Marlaska, who has estimated the staff of this body at 71,900 police officers after the incorporation of the new agents.
With this background, he has said that the National Police is “one of the institutions most valued and respected by society”, contributing to making Spain “one of the safest countries in the world”.
Terrorism and crime
Likewise, he has underlined the experience of this body in the fight against terrorism and manifestations of organized crime, as well as the fact of having strengthened its assistance and humanitarian dimension, and “advancing in gender equality”, he added.
Likewise, the head of the Interior has highlighted the fact that the National Police has known how to “adapt to deal with the different types of crime”, with a “clear course” thanks to the 2022-2025 Strategic Plan, which “accelerates the digital transformation” , in other aspects.
Grande-Marlaska has stressed that this Friday the first four hundred student officers of the new University Center of this body, whose headquarters are in the National Police School of Ávila, will finish their exams.
“Your most valuable capital is your social legitimacy”, concluded the Minister of the Interior, before the 2,377 new policemen fulfilled the tradition and threw their caps into the sky.
Outside the National School, members of Jupol have gathered again to demand that the Government “pay off the historical debt with the national police officers”, in reference to salary equality with other bodies and “dignified retirement”.
The general secretary of Jupol, Aarón Rivero, has sent a statement to the media to announce that this Friday “a series of mobilizations” have begun in Ávila. EFE