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A territory is not only shaped by its geographical boundaries, its characteristic cities, towns, and villages, its emblematic buildings and monuments, or its natural landscapes; it is also formed by all the citizens who live within it. So, the best way of caring for a community is to prioritise the security and safety of all its inhabitants.
The Basque Country Security Forces are responsible for safeguarding the physical integrity of citizens and fighting crime through their actions, resulting in this being one of the safest regions in Europe.
Responsibility for ensuring citizen safety lies with the Basque Regional Police Force, known as the Ertzaintza, which was founded in 1982, as well as two different Municipal Police Forces, who are trained at the Basque Police and Emergency Services Academylocated in Arkaute (Araba-Álava).
The Ertzaintza is an on-the-ground police force that is highly professional and recognised for its work. In recent years, it has increased its presence on the street by allocating officers to the Citizen Safety unit, increasing the number of patrols on foot and in cars. The Local Police have also worked hard to increase the provision of policing in the three province capitals.
In short, the Basque Country is a secure, safe place, which promotes peace and social harmony, striving to ensure personal wellbeing, with a police force that is committed to society. In fact, Bilbao is the fourth safest city on the planet according to the World’s Best Cities 2023, a ranking of the 100 best urban destinations in the world in which to live, work, invest and visit.
