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Galicia to Pull Most Police From Guarding Parliament and Xunta HQ, Shift to Private Security

The regional government blames an unresolved staffing–funding standoff with Spain’s Interior Ministry for the move.

Overview

  • Most Unidad de Policía Adscrita posts at the Parlamento de Galicia and San Caetano will be vacated in the coming weeks, with static protection handed to private security firms.
  • Roughly a dozen officers now on those posts will be redeployed to higher‑priority duties including protection of victims of gender‑based violence and minors, wildfire work, environmental protection and anti‑poaching.
  • The unit operates with about 339–343 officers out of 500 authorized, reflecting years without new hiring and an average age above 50 that officials say strains capacity.
  • Police unions CEP and SUP object to replacing officers with private guards, citing lower training and the absence of police powers such as conducting frisking when needed.
  • Galicia says Interior wants the region to cover half of agents’ salaries and all other unit costs, which it estimates would raise its bill from €5 million to €15 million after talks with Minister Fernando Grande‑Marlaska failed.