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The Ombudsman asks the Department of Safety and Security why it reports the origin of the detainees

The Security Adviser, Bingen Zupiria, explained that it had been decided to change the approach due to the "terrible pressure" being exerted by the right-wing parties in the Basque Parliament on the origin of the detainees. 

 

GRAFCAV5984. VITORIA, 04/11/2025.- El consejero de Seguridad, Bingen Zupiria, avanza en el Parlamento Vasco las principales actuaciones que impulsará este departamento en 2026 con los 850 millones de euros asignados en el proyecto de Ley de Presupuestos, un 6,4 % más que este año. EFE / L. Rico
Security Counselor Bingen Zupiria in the Basque Parliament. Photo: EFE

The Ertzaintza asks the Department of Securityof the Basque Government why the Arartekohas begun to report the origin of the persons arrested. 

Since last October, the press service of the Department of Safety and Security has beenreporting on the origin of the detainees, which is the only police force in the Spanish state. 

More than ten years ago, the Ombudsman, in one of his recommendations, said that police press releases should avoid providing data on the origin if this information is not necessary to understand the news. The Ombudsman's view is that the dissemination of the origin of detainees does not contribute to the reintegration of foreign persons, but increases stereotypes and prejudices and opens up a misconception of certain groups.

Furthermore, in disseminating this recommendation, the Ombudsman recalled that the Council of Europe's Anti-Racism Commission 's view was that Europe should refrain from disseminating information on the race, religion or nationality of alleged offenders. Since then, the Ertzaintza has not disseminated information on the origin of detainees in its press releases. 

On 22 October, the Security Adviser, Bingen Zupiria, explained the change of approach. In his words, the decision has been taken following the 'terrible pressure' being exerted by the PP and Vox in the Basque Parliament to extend the origin of the detainees. 'In the end, it is better to explain things as they are, without stigmatizing them, rather than arguing with the extreme right.

When he gets the answer, the Ombudsman will review the situation and decide what steps to take. 

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