Crime in Spain

Crime statistics for Spain are published annually by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística.^[1] Different agencies of Spain and the European Union conduct analysis of the crime data in Spain. Statistics show Spain is one of the European countries with the lowest crime rate, according to a 2005 Gallop Europe research study.^{[2][3][4][5][6]} The rate of misdemeanours and crimes in Spain was 46 per 1,000 people in 2009.^[7]

Law enforcement in Spain

Law enforcement in Spain is carried out by the Guardia Civil, Policia Nacional and in some Autonomous communities also by their territorial police (Ertzaintza, Mossos d'Esquadra and Policía Foral). Some municipalities also have a local police department.^[8]

Drug-related crime

Spain is the principal route of entry of drugs and narcotics into the European Union. Indeed, about half of the cocaine found by law enforcement agencies in Europe is found by Spanish police.^[9] Spain has a high number of drug users, leading the table of cocaine users in Europe.^[9]

Immigration and crime

There has been the impression amongst a small percentage of the population in Spain that the increase in the number of crimes is related to the increase in the number of foreigners living in Spain. However, 70% of all crimes are committed by Spaniards and 30% by foreigners.^[10]

References

1. ^ "Datos de Seguridad y Justicia" (in Spanish). Madrid. http://www.ine.es/inebmenu/mnu_justicia.htm. Retrieved 15 August 2011. 
2. ^ Hapshire, David (2000). Living and Working in Spain: Survival Handbook. Survival Handbooks (Third ed.). Survival Books. ISBN 978-1901130416. 
3. ^ "The Burden of Crime in the EU". Galluo Europe. http://www.gallup-europe.be/euics/Xz38/downloads/EUICS%20-%20The%20Burden%20of%20Crime%20in%20the%20EU.pdf. Retrieved 15 August 2011. 
4. ^ Gómez, Ignacio. "Un informe europeo clasifica a España como el país de Europa con menos delincuencia común" (in Spanish). Madrid: Diario 20 Minutos. http://www.20minutos.es/noticia/199011/0/delincuencia/europa/gallup/. Retrieved 15 August 2011. 
5. ^ Europeworld. "European Crime Rates". Europe World. http://www.europeword.com/blog/europe/european-crime-rates/. Retrieved 23 August 2011. 
6. ^ Johnston, Philip (6 February 2007). "Britain tops European crime league". London: The Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1541699/Britain-tops-European-crime-league.html. Retrieved 23 August 2011. 
7. ^ "La delincuencia en 2009 fue la más baja de la década, según Interior" (in Spanish). Madrid: El País. 09/March/2010. http://www.elpais.com/articulo/espana/delincuencia/2009/fue/baja/decada/Interior/elpepuesp/20100309elpepunac_11/Tes. Retrieved 15 August 2011. 
8. ^ Europol. "Members - Spain". Europol. https://www.europol.europa.eu/content/memberpage/spain-757. Retrieved 22 August 2011. 
9. ^ ^{a b} Tremlett, Giles. "Spain tops table of cocaine use". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2005/sep/07/spain.drugstrade. Retrieved 15 August 2011. 
10. ^ "El 70% de la delincuencia es perpetrada por españoles según el INE". Tercerainformacion.es. http://www.tercerainformacion.es/spip.php?article10906. Retrieved 2011-08-16. 

External links

• Foreign and Commonwealth Office UK. Travel and Living Abroad - Spain
• United Nations Seventh Survey of Crime Trends and Operations of Criminal Justice Systems, covering the period 1998 - 2000
• John Gordon Ross' Blog. Spain and Portugal for visitors - Sense and Sensibility - Crime and Safety in Spain
• European Commission - Eurostat: Crime statistics