Guide to Andalucia > Useful information > Safety and personal security

Safety and personal security

There are various emergencies that you can and should report to the authorities:

• stolen vehicles and vehicle recovery,
• documentation and belongings stolen from vehicles,
• robbery of all types of documentary and personal effects (cash, credit cards, mobile phones, etc)

All of these can be reported on 902 102 112. You can also contact other security authorities – such as customs or state police – through the various police bodies, each of which has specific functions and responsibilities.

The police authorities working in Andalucía, as across Spain, are the following:

• Guardia Civil: their principal function is traffic control on motorways and other roads; border controls; environment; control of weapons and explosives. The Guardia Civil are directed by the Ministry of Defence, their function is military, and they are recognizable by their dark green uniforms.
• Policía Nacional: this is the security force directed by the Ministry of the Interior, and their responsibility is nationwide. Their duties include public security, crime investigation, drug trafficking, illegal gambling, and so on. Their uniform is navy blue, and distinguished by the insignia bearing the red and yellow flag of Spain.
• Policía Autonómica: this is Andalucía’s own regional police force, and its duties involve matters regulated by the regional authorities, including public buildings and protection of the environment. Its officers are easily identified by the Andalucían white and green flag, both on uniforms and vehicles.
• Policía Local: these are the local or municipal police, who chiefly control traffic and public order. Their blue uniform is very similar to that of the Policía Nacional, except it does not carry red and yellow insignia of the latter.

These descriptions of each police force are general, and depending on the circumstance the forces work alongside each other. As well as these state forces, in many public buildings there are also private security guards, but their authority is lesser than and separate from that of police officers.