The concept "police officer" encompasses all police forces made up of agents of the authority and whose fundamental mission is to guarantee citizen coexistence and compliance with the rights and duties of citizens.
The police forces that assume this function are, fundamentally, the Mossos in the whole of the territory of the current Autonomous Community of Catalonia and the local police forces in the municipalities. There are also police forces that depend on the Central State Administration, such as the National Police and the Civil Guard, with more specific and restricted functions, such as those related to airports or territorial waters, among others.

Generally speaking, the agents assume the function of guaranteeing public safety and public order, preventing and neutralising situations of risk for people and property, and also carry out judicial police functions in criminal investigation processes, including organised crime and terrorism. They also deal with the amicable resolution of private conflicts and cooperation and collaboration with local authorities. Other functions of public safety officers are road and traffic safety, working to prevent and neutralise situations of risk to the safety of people and property on interurban roads and, where appropriate, urban roads. They also collaborate in emergency and civil protection matters.

• Protect people and property and maintain public order.
• Prevent criminal acts.
• Watch over and protect people, authorities, buildings, establishments, and dependencies of the Public Administration, as well as to guarantee the normal functioning of the installations and the safety of the users of the services.
• Help in cases of accident, catastrophe or public calamity, and participate in the execution of civil protection plans in the manner determined by law.
• Help in rescue operations, if required.
• Monitor public spaces, protect demonstrations, and maintain order in large concentrations of people.
• Ensure compliance with the law. Inspect activities subject to regulation by the public administration and report any illegal activity and guarantee the functioning of essential public services.
• Ensure compliance with regulations on the environment, water resources and hunting, fishing forestry and any other type of wealth related to nature conservation.
• Ensure compliance with the regulations on cultural heritage, in terms of safeguarding and protecting it and to prevent its plundering or destruction.
• Carry out judicial police functions.
• Coordinate between the different police forces for the fulfilment of their functions.
  

Regulated training and graduates

Other specific skills

Self-control: Level 3

Commitment to the organisation: Level 3

Flexibility and change management: Level 2

Analytical thought: Level 2

Concern for order and quality: Level 2

Safety

Those who prefer to work in the field of security enjoy carrying out duties of protection, security and surveillance of individuals, goods, data or information. Activities such as protecting people who work with an entity and their staff in order to prevent offences and crimes, as well participating in processes that investigate criminal activity are examples of the professional tasks that comprise this field. Knowing the laws that are applicable in the field or professional context within which this task takes place is key when carrying out these kinds of activities.

Firefighter

Occupational health and safety specialist at construction projects

Expert in micropigmentation

Facilities Maintenance Technician

Photovoltaic solar energy installation and maintenance technician

• Work hours

  Annual working hours, shifts, personal matters, etc. are not regulated in the same way in the different police forces, and police officers usually work shifts, evenings, and weekends. As a guideline, the working day is 35 hours and as the working hours are shift-based, there is the possibility to work on weekends and public holidays.
  
  

• Salary

  Remuneration varies according to the municipality and police category. The information provided is for guidance only, as salaries tend to vary considerably depending on the level of responsibility assumed within the corresponding police force:
  • Mossos d'Esquadra - Policia de la Generalitat de Catalunya: between 36,635.64 and 91,032.3 euros gross per year.
  • Guàrdia Urbana - Barcelona City Council: between 20,678 and 57,792 euros net per year.
    

• Other features

  Police forces are armed forces. There are two professions close to that of police officers: port police or municipal security guards, in both cases these professionals carry out part of the functions of the police, but they are not armed bodies and are not considered to be security forces and corps. The port police are not part of the Security Forces and Corps and therefore the selection and promotion processes are not assimilated.
  
  

• Professional category

  Technician