Guadalajara, October 3, 2023 – The deputy delegate of the Government of Spain in the province of Guadalajara, Mercedes Gómez, presided this morning the institutional act of the National Police Day, accompanied by the provincial chief commissioner, Ángel José Alcázar. In his speech, preceded by a minute’s silence by the victim of the tragedy that occurred this weekend in Murcia, he stressed that “security is a key element for the well-being of citizens, a fundamental right that allows people to develop their lives normally and confidently”, and thanked the members of the Guadalajara Police Station for their daily work to make this “one of the safest cities in Spain”.
Gómez has drawn attention to the fact that the data for the first half of this year reflect a decrease in most of the crimes associated with conventional crime in the city of Guadalajara, while cybercrime increases very significantly. In fact, he has indicated that “practically one in four reported crimes is committed on the Internet, but cybercrime and its consequences do not yet generate social impact”.
Therefore, he has stressed the need for continuous training and constant updating of the National Police to remain at the forefront of security in an increasingly digital world, but he has also recalled the importance of citizen awareness and self-protection to prevent crimes on the network. “It is essential that citizens help us protect them, because it will be very difficult to do so if they do not first become aware that they must protect themselves against cybercrime. Therefore, the precaution and control of the public exposure of our data in the networks is so necessary,” said the subdelegate.
She has also referred to crimes related to gender violence, recalling that in the city of Guadalajara alone there are about 200 active cases of women who have some kind of follow-up or protection to ensure their safety.
Bicentennial
Ahead of the upcoming bicentennial celebration of the Police, in 2024, Gómez highlighted the extensive programming organized by the Guadalajara Police Station, highlighting the recent opening of a historic room at the Guadalajara Police Station, “a space full of potential to become a living testimony of the evolution of the National Police and an open window for citizens to get to know their work and their commitment to security.”
Gómez has stressed the public service character of the National Police, and has assured that “strong public services are essential for social cohesion, because they contribute to building a more just and inclusive society.” In this regard, he has pointed out that collaboration with other public security services such as the Civil Guard and the Local Police is essential.
The deputy delegate has guaranteed the commitment of the Government of Spain to the National Police of Guadalajara and has indicated that soon the new headquarters of the elite unit, the Special Operations Group (GEO), will begin to be a reality, with a planned investment of more than 20 million euros, which endorses the continuity in the city that saw it born 45 years ago.
For his part, the provincial chief commissioner has also reviewed the activities organized as a prelude to the bicentenary, which began at the beginning of the year and have included from conferences to an exhibition of material that brought together about 5,000 schoolchildren this past June. During the event, distinctions have been awarded to agents who have carried out singular actions, as well as to people related to police work.