Rojales police station

So no one has yet explained... the OP found they had to go to Guardamar to report the incident. I went to Almoradi ( following previous info on this forum) , my understanding is it is the Guardia Civil you report it to, not the Policia Local. Can anyone confirm? And can it be ANY Guardia Civil office?

Hi Sue Jen

About 5 years ago our car was broken into at the car park at La Marina beach behind restaurant Candela and my wallet with credit cards was taken from the boot

We went to the Policia Local in Guardamar who directed us across the road to the Guardia Civil They told us to come back the next day as their interpreter was only available Mon- Fri and this was Sunday
As we were returning home the next day we insisted and they gave us a phone number to call in Madrid, we spoke to an English speaking guy who took the report
We then had to go to the National Police in Orihuela for a hard copy

Lesson learnt was only bring €20 to the beach for an ice cream or drink

Regards

Brian

In Torrevieja we have to go to the Guardia Civil to report the crime and fill in the report form with the officer on duty . He/she then asks you to sign and you get a copy to take away. You will need this for your insurers.

Bee

As a general point, I find the Police structure in Spain quite difficult to understand.
For instance at the old Murcia airport I was always puzzled why both the Guardia Civil and National Police were on Patrol (with offices next to each other). There must be quite an overlap in duties. Which one would you report a crime to?

The National police are responsible for investigating crimes in urban areas, terrorism and immigration matters.
Probably why they are at the airport and also why you go to a national police station for NIE, residency, travel visas and so on.

The Guardia Civil are responsible for crimes in rural areas, highways (traffic enforcement) border patrol, maritime border security and marine search and rescue. They are also a quasi-military force responsible for riot control and so on.
Both can be pretty interchangeable and you may find the Guardia Civil investigating break ins and so on depending on the police presence in the area.

The local police more concerned with minor breaches such as parking, traffic control and advising on crime prevention They are generally only in areas with a population of over 5,000.

marcliff wrote:The National police are responsible for investigating crimes in urban areas, terrorism and immigration matters.
Probably why they are at the airport and also why you go to a national police station for NIE, residency, travel visas and so on.

The Guardia Civil are responsible for crimes in rural areas, highways (traffic enforcement) border patrol, maritime border security and marine search and rescue. They are also a quasi-military force responsible for riot control and so on.
Both can be pretty interchangeable and you may find the Guardia Civil investigating break ins and so on depending on the police presence in the area.

The local police more concerned with minor breaches such as parking, traffic control and advising on crime prevention They are generally only in areas with a population of over 5,000.

So (Apologies marcliff, you are left holding the parcel on this one...), what is the score? If someone unfortunately experiences a crime, what should they do and to whom should they report?

It should be reported to the Guardia Civil. If necessary, they will involve the Policia Nacional.
Think UK with normal plod taking the report but passing it to the CID if necessary.
There is no Guardia Civil office in Rojales hence people being advised to go to Almoradi or Guardamar or Catral which do have Guardia Civil offices.
If someone parks across your Vado Permanente or lets their dog foul the footpath then you should notify the Policia Local.

The local office is in the Don Carlos , open times are variable ….!!!!!

marcliff wrote:It should be reported to the Guardia Civil. If necessary, they will involve the Policia Nacional...
There is no Guardia Civil office in Rojales hence people being advised to go to Almoradi or Guardamar or Catral which do have Guardia Civil offices.
If someone parks across your Vado Permanente or lets their dog foul the footpath then you should notify the Policia Local.

Great, thank you...makes it clear.

Sorry your phone will not be a substitute for a translator