Foreign police help Spanish officers in Madrid

Foreign police help Spanish officers in Madrid

FOREIGN police from Portugal, Italy and France are patrolling with Spanish officers on the streets of Madrid this summer.

The collaboration with foreign police forces is possible thanks to the Prum Convention, signed to improve cross-border cooperation between European Union countries’ police forces.

“Our job is to help tourists from our own countries,” explained Fabio, an Italian officer. “This is my first visit to Spain and the first time I have worked abroad.”

According to official figures, 1,500 pickpockets were arrested in Spain last year the officers will be present in the city’s tourist zones where they abound.

Thierry Alonso from France said that as well as helping to prevent these incidents, it was necessary to help foreign tourists lodge an official complaint with the police.

“There are a lot of robberies and tourists don’t know what to do,” he said.

“The foreign police offices are integrated in each police station and they are one of us, helping with public safety problems,” said Natacha Stevenin Fernandez, a Policia Nacional officer in Madrid.