Virginia Barcones presides in Soria the festivity of the Holy Angels Custodians, patron of the National Police

• In the event that has taken place in the Palacio de la Audiencia Theater six agents have been recognized with the Cross to Police Merit with White Badge • The delegate of the Government in Castilla y León highlights the growing closeness that the Institution has with citizens • In a matter of months the service to citizens will improve thanks to the inauguration of the new Commissariat

October 4, 2023.- The delegate of the Government in Castilla y León, Virginia Barcones, has presided in Soria the festivity of the Holy Guardian Angels, patron of the National Police. During the event he highlighted the work done by the Corps to be closer to the citizens as well as the work of the agents, a work that makes the Sorian capital a safe city. It has also become clear that it is a matter of months before the National Police improves the services it offers to citizens thanks to the inauguration and entry into service of the new Police Station.

The feast of the Holy Guardian Angels has begun with a solemn Mass in the Church of San Francisco and has continued with an institutional act in the Palacio Teatro de la Audiencia in which the main authorities of the province have been present.

During her speech, Virginia Barcones highlighted the “effort and sacrifice” of National Police officers in the performance of their duties. It is also a vocation of public service such that “the interests and security of the citizens take precedence over their own”. “We are talking about integral, responsible, courageous and supportive agents,” he added.

In this regard, he explained that thanks to the work of the Security Forces and Corps, Spain is one of the safest countries in the world and therefore also Castilla y León and Soria.

However, he has invited the agents to flee from conformism as crime always tries to be one step ahead. In this regard, he has set as an example the cybercrime that is increasing and before which “we all have to be prepared”

In the Sorian capital, with data from the second quarter of the year, computer scams have increased by 9% and this has caused the total crime to have risen by 5.5%. In the first half of the year, cybercriminals have already attacked 321 people in Soria capital.

Virginia Barcones has pointed out that the civic space is “intangible” and the offender is not seen. That’s why not as much social alarm as burglaries in homes, which have fallen by 40%, or tumultuous squabbles that have fallen by 46%.

The delegate said that it is a challenge to combat cybercrime and all its consequences. “Our National Police and Civil Guard are redoubling their efforts to fight it, although we are aware of the difficulties involved,” he added.

CLOSENESS TO CITIZENSHIP AND IMPROVEMENT OF SERVICE

Throughout its almost 200 years of history, the National Police has been able to adapt to the times. The professionalism of the agents and permanent training have made the agents of the State Security Bodies and Forces an international example.

The delegate of the Government explained that the National Police pays special attention “to the most vulnerable in our society”, and for that reason it is increasingly close to the street and the citizens. This is due to plans such as the ‘Master Plan for Coexistence and Improvement of Security in Educational Centers and their environments’; the ‘Greater Security Plan’ aimed at the elderly or the ‘I Strategic Plan for the Prevention of Sexual Violence 2023–2027.

She has also pointed out that the Institution is a pioneer in the integration of women. As an example of equality, he cited the ‘I Plan of Equality of the National Police’, approved this year, and whose objective is to enhance the presence of women in all units of the Police, support co-responsibility and conciliation as well as give priority to actions that eradicate Gender Violence and sexual harassment.

In this regard, she has indicated that the presence of women is increasingly relevant, as attested by the 22 agents currently in the Soria Police Station, 3 belonging to the Executive Scale and 19 to the Basic Scale.

Virginia Barcones has explained that one of the milestones of the Government was to exceed 10,000 National Police and Civil Guard agents in Castilla y León. “The next milestone is to recover the workforce at its historic peak, that of 2011, with 10,256 agents. We are very close now,” he said.

The government delegate referred to the new Police Station, “a milestone in the history of this Corps in our city.” The works, after an investment of more than 9 million euros, are practically finished and in a few months, after its equipment, “it will be operational”. “This is a new facility that will be in line with the needs of the city and the National Police, a modern and unique building that will improve the working conditions of the agents the service offered to the citizens,” he said.

CROSS TO POLICE MERIT

During the event, the award of the Cross to Police Merit with White Badge was given to the following agents:

• Chief Inspector, Juan Alberto Mateo Morales.
• Inspector, Elena Ramón Relanzón.
• Police, Tomás González Sánchez.
• Police, Ángel Rubén de León Ciria.
• Police, José Ramón Sánchez Pardo.
• Police, Noelia García Alonso.

The Cross has also been awarded to Police Merit with White Badge to the colonel in the reserve and former subdelegate of Defense in Soria, Miguel García Pérez.

Virginia Barcones has had words of thanks for the officers’ relatives. He also highlighted the excellent collaboration between the National Police and the Civil Guard, and thanked the Local Police, private security and other institutions for their collaboration with the State Security Forces.

The last memory of the government delegate in Castilla y León has been for those policemen who lost their lives in the act of service. “Making our society safer, more free and more democratic today is part of its legacy. Let’s not forget them,” he concluded.

PROVINCIAL POLICE CHIEF

For his part, the provincial head of the National Police in Soria, Francisco Moñux, addressed in his address in a special way the citizens of Soria, whose demand to receive a service close to excellence is a challenge for the public servants of this city, and the men and women who make up the National Police of Soria and who are the essence and base of that Corporation.

He also stressed that the new Police Station will be inaugurated soon, which means achieving one of the greatest aspirations in the history of the National Police in this city and which will allow us to serve the citizens in an area of dignity.