Nicanor Sen highlights the crucial work and unwavering commitment of the National Police to security in Castilla y León

• The government delegate in Castilla y León participates in the event of celebration of the bicentenary of the National Police with the raising of the flag of Spain that has taken place in San Pablo Square in Valladolid and that has been replicated in the other capitals of the Community • “From the Ministry of Interior there is a commitment to personal and material resources and that is why Castilla y León is on track to reach the largest number of troops in its history, with a staff that already exceeds 10,000 agents between the National Police and the Civil Guard,” said Sen.

January 13, 2024.- The delegate of the Government in Castilla y León, Nicanor Sen, has conveyed the maximum recognition and gratitude of the Community for the two centuries of uninterrupted service carried out by the National Police, a body "forged thanks to the effort, sacrifice and heroism" of each and every one of its members.

This recognition was made during the celebration of the bicentenary of the National Police with the raising of the flag of Spain that took place this Saturday in San Pablo Square in Valladolid and that has been replicated simultaneously in the nine provinces of the Community, as well as in the rest of the national territory.

An event chaired by the Government delegate in Castilla y León and which was accompanied by the Superior Chief of the National Police of Castilla y León, Juan Carlos Hernández Muñoz, the Provincial Chief Commissioner of Valladolid, Francisco Javier Oterino, and by the Subdelegate of the Government in Valladolid, Alicia Villar.

Sen has recalled how over these 200 years the National Police has been able to adapt to the changing challenges of society, “embracing innovation and technology to improve its efficiency”, always demonstrating its crucial work and unwavering commitment “to the defense of the rights and security of citizens”.

As such, he continued, the National Police has contributed significantly to the construction and maintenance of a safe environment in Castilla y León, favoring, thanks to the coordination and collaboration with the other Security Forces and Bodies operating in the territory, it to be one of the communities with the lowest crime rate and the safest in Spain.

A priority for the Government of Spain, said Sen, which translates into the number of troops deployed in Castilla y León and which is on track to reach the highest in its history, with a staff that between the National Police and the Civil Guard already exceeds 10,000 agents.

“The Ministry of the Interior has a commitment to personal and material resources, as well as to improving the conditions and remuneration of agents to guarantee the safety of citizens, because behind every number that reflects that decrease in the crime rate, there are stories of courageous interventions and innovative strategies that deserve our recognition,” said Sen.

A commemorative event that has made it possible to renew the commitment to the values of justice, security and respect and that the government delegate wanted to conclude by conveying his utmost gratitude to those national police officers who have lost their lives in an act of service protecting the citizens of Castilla y León.

“I want these 200 years of experience and learning to serve as a solid foundation for the continued evolution of our security forces. May each challenge faced and each lesson learned drive us to improve and continue to raise the standard of excellence in community service,” he concluded.

“COMMITTED TO YOU”

Under the motto “Committed to you”, the Bicentenary is a historical milestone that makes the National Police the oldest state body in all the Spanish Security Forces and Corps.

In its two centuries of history, the National Police has evolved and adapted to the challenges of each era, forging in that long journey very solid principles and values, born of the effort, sacrifice and even heroism of its members.

For 200 years, the components of the National Police have given an effective response to the demands of all citizens, which is why, today, it is one of the institutions most loved and valued by society.

The Bicentenary, considered as an event of exceptional public interest, commemorates the main episodes in the history of the National Police, its image before the citizens, the feeling of belonging of its members and its recognition as a reference operator in public security, both nationally and internationally. In addition, it will serve as a tribute to all the national policemen who gave their lives in the act of service.

The commemoration of the Bicentenary will take place throughout 2024, through an extensive program of activities that will take place throughout the national territory and that are promoted and coordinated by the National Commission, an interministerial collegiate body attached to the Ministry of the Interior that acts under the Honorary Presidency of Their Majesties the Kings.

The 200th anniversary will also be reflected in the calendar of popular races Route 091 organized by the National Police. During 2024, more than 45 sports races will be held in different Spanish cities, all of them with an eminently supportive character, and framed in the events of the Bicentenary.

200 years serving citizens

On January 13, 1824, at the initiative of King Ferdinand VII, the Royal Decree was promulgated creating the so-called General Police of the Kingdom, historical precedent of the current National Police and the first police force with a national dimension with the function of “guaranteeing good and public security”.

To this end, this police force was endowed with “unity, extension and strength” recognizing it as a “benefit for civilization” and the “first guarantee of good and public happiness.” Throughout these two centuries of existence, and despite having had different denominations, the National Police has continuously served all citizens and Spain, always in the same spirit of public service.

In 1844 it was known as the Corps of Protection and Security, after Surveillance and later Security and Surveillance. In 1942 it was renamed the General Police Corps and, in 1978, the Superior Police Corps, of a civilian nature, which coexisted with the Armed Police Corps, which later changed its name to the National Police Corps, with military structure and organization.

Finally, in 1986, both bodies were integrated into a single body, the National Police Force, whose name became the National Police in 2015.

Another historic milestone happened in 1978. The BOE published the call for selection tests that included 100 places for “female members”. The following year, in 1979, 42 women took the oath of office and were part of the first promotion of the Superior Police Force. The National Police currently has some 74,000 officers, of whom 12,600 are women, which represents almost 18 per cent of its total staff. Four of them, chief commissioners, are part of the National Police Governing Board.