Which police to contact for a theft, break-in or other problem

Terms used

• Denuncia — A denuncia is a formal report of a crime to the police, the prosecutor or a court.
• Policía Local — Policía Local is the town hall's police force, handling local traffic, noise, local rules and first response.
• NIE — The NIE is the identification number Spain gives to foreigners.
• TIE — The TIE is the physical residence card issued to foreigners after fingerprinting.
• Empadronamiento — Empadronamiento is registering your home address with your town hall.
• Amistoso — The amistoso is the joint accident report that both drivers fill in for their insurers.

Key rules

• Emergency: Call 112 if a crime is in progress or someone is hurt.
• Denuncia: You can generally file a denuncia with Policía Nacional, Guardia Civil or your regional force.
• Noise: Noise complaints go first to Policía Local, not the national forces.
• Paperwork: NIE, TIE and residence matters go to Extranjería or Policía Nacional, while empadronamiento goes to your town hall.

The short answer

For a crime such as theft or a break-in, go to Policía Nacional in cities, Guardia Civil in rural areas, or the regional force if your region has one. A report to the police is called a denuncia. It can generally be filed with any of these. Policía Local's role varies by town. For noise and local traffic, Policía Local is usually your first call.

If a crime is happening now, or someone is hurt, call 112.

Who does what

• Policía Nacional: works mainly in provincial capitals and large towns. It handles ID documents, foreigner and immigration matters, passports, and serious investigations.
• Guardia Civil: covers rural areas and small towns, interurban roads, borders, coasts, ports and airports.
• Policía Local: is run by the town hall. It handles local traffic, local rules, noise and order in public spaces, and it is often the first to arrive.
• Regional forces: Catalonia has the Mossos d'Esquadra, the Basque Country has the Ertzaintza, and Navarra has the Policía Foral. Where one exists, reports go to it.

The official apps and phone lines are listed in the resource below.

Theft

File your denuncia with Policía Nacional, Guardia Civil or the regional force. Policía Local often takes theft reports too. You can also report to the duty court (juzgado de guardia) or the prosecutor's office.

If you don't know who took your things, Policía Nacional offers an online pre-denuncia. You must then confirm it in person at a comisaría (police station).

Break-in at your home

Call 112 while it is happening or straight afterwards. You can also call 091 (Policía Nacional) or 062 (Guardia Civil). Don't touch anything, so the police scientific unit can examine the scene. The police then take your denuncia. Keep a copy, because your insurer will ask for it.

Noise

Start with Policía Local, through your local number or 092 where it exists, or 112. The town hall measures noise and issues fines under its local noise rules, which differ from town to town. If the noise comes from a neighbour in your building, the building's community rules also apply. Where there is no local force, Guardia Civil or Policía Nacional can attend.

Traffic accidents

In towns, Policía Local handles accidents. On roads between towns, it is the Guardia Civil de Tráfico. Catalonia and the Basque Country have their own traffic police on their roads.

Call 112 if anyone is injured, or 062 for the Guardia Civil. If nobody is hurt, both drivers can fill in the amistoso, the joint accident report, for the insurers.

Foreigner paperwork

Residence permits, the NIE and the TIE are handled by the Oficinas de Extranjería or Policía Nacional, not by Policía Local. You usually need an appointment (cita previa), and systems vary by province. EU citizens register at an Oficina de Extranjería or a comisaría and receive a certificate. The documents table below sets out who issues what.

Empadronamiento, the town register, is not a police matter. Your town hall handles it.

Can I file a denuncia at any station?

The law says anyone who witnesses a crime must report it to a judge, the prosecutor or the police. In practice, stations often take reports for crimes committed elsewhere in Spain and forward them to the right court. Some will send you to the station for the area where it happened.

Policía Local practice differs by town. Larger forces often have a denuncia desk. Small ones may send you to the national force or the court. Ask the local station whether it takes denuncias for your type of offence.

Documents you need

• NIE number: assigned by the Policía Nacional (Extranjería), and in some cases by consulates abroad.

• TIE card: issued after fingerprinting at a Policía Nacional station or an Extranjería office, by appointment (cita previa). Needed if you hold a residence permit.

• EU citizen registration certificate: issued when you register at the Oficina de Extranjería or a police station. Needed if you are an EU citizen.

Official police apps and contact channels by region

Official police apps and contact channels

• AlertCops app (Ministry of the Interior): Send a geolocated alert to the police control rooms, report a crime you suffer or witness (including hate crimes and bullying) with photos or video, or use the discreet gender violence button and silent chat. It is free, works across Spain and suits people who cannot call or have difficulty speaking.

• Policía Nacional online service: Start a pre-denuncia (a report you begin online) at the official website. It is usually limited to minor thefts or losses with no known culprit.

• Guardia Civil online service: Start a pre-denuncia through the Guardia Civil's e-Administración website.

• Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalonia): Call 112, file an online complaint through the Gencat website (Denúncia telemàtica), or use the Mossos app.

• Ertzaintza (Basque Country): Call 112 or use the online complaint option on the Euskadi.eus website.

• Policía Foral (Navarra): Call 112 in an emergency, call 948 for other matters, or use the the official website website.

Frequently asked questions

Can Policía Local take my denuncia?

Often yes, but it depends on the town: Policía Local usually takes reports for traffic accidents, damage in public spaces and local offences. For other crimes, small forces may send you to Policía Nacional, Guardia Civil or the court. Where a regional police exists, such as Mossos or Ertzaintza, reports go there.

Who do I contact about a noisy neighbour?

Contact the Policía Local first, through the local number (often 092) or 112. The town hall's environmental department measures noise and fines under the local noise rules.

Which police handle a car accident?

In towns, Policía Local handles the accident; on roads between towns, it is the Guardia Civil de Tráfico. Catalonia and the Basque Country have their own traffic police. Call 112 if anyone is hurt, or 062 for the Guardia Civil. With no injuries, both drivers can fill in the amistoso, the joint accident report, for insurance.

Is empadronamiento a police matter?

No, empadronamiento, the registration on the municipal register, is handled by the town hall (ayuntamiento), not the police. Police handle the TIE card and NIE number, by appointment (cita previa), at a Policía Nacional station or an Extranjería office.

References

1. denuncias.policia.es
2. navarra.es