Several of the most representative unions of the National Police have publicly expressed their "positive" assessment of the recent resignation of the Government delegate in Madrid, Francisco Martín. They reproach him for a period "marked by sectarianism" and for having used the police force "as a shield" when it suited him, only to "abandon it" when the criticisms intensified.
On one hand, JUPOL recalls that during the time Martín has been at the head of the Government Delegation, they have repeatedly demanded his resignation, disagreeing with his way of managing security. The last request came after the delegate's criticisms of the police intervention at the Complutense University of Madrid.
That operation on October 14 took place during the first day of the educational strike in the Community of Madrid. A group of protesters gathered at Ciudad Universitaria, and the National Police dispersed the protest with charges that were later censured by Martín.
"It is unacceptable that someone who is supposed to lead and support the National Police dedicates themselves to publicly questioning its professionals and casting doubt on their actions," they have stated from JUPOL, which also includes among its reproaches the management of the concentrations against the PSOE in Ferraz and the pro-Palestinian protests during La Vuelta.
In this line, they insist that the National Police "does not need political leaders who use it as a shield when it suits them and abandon it when criticism arrives," but rather commanders who "face the situation, take responsibility for their decisions, and defend those who risk their physical integrity on the street."
Therefore, JUPOL has conveyed a "clear message" to the next Government delegate, demanding "less political calculation and more citizen security." "We demand courage, responsibility, and institutional support without complexes for the National Police," they emphasize, underlining that "the safety of Madrid residents does not allow for cowardice."
In similar terms, the Spanish Police Confederation (CEP) has made a harsh assessment of Martín's time at the Delegation, attributing to him a "regrettable balance," with an increase in violent crime, a reduction in National Police personnel, and a management "marked by sectarianism and repeated questioning" of the agents.
At this point, they refer expressly to the investigations opened by the latest charges in the educational protests, a procedure that, in their opinion, places the Police as "suspect before public opinion before knowing the conclusions" of the internal report that Martín himself requested.
"His departure may be good news for those of us who have been demanding another way to manage security in Madrid. That it was necessary to wait for his electoral problems to see that exit is, precisely, the best synthesis of a mediocre balance sprinkled with failures," they concluded from the CEP.
Likewise, the Unified Police Syndicate (SUP) maintains that Martín's resignation "comes late," reminding that they have been alerting for almost a month about "attacks on police, threats, and serious security problems" at the camp in Sol without the delegate offering an "effective solution."
"It is particularly striking that now it is the campers themselves who are beginning to voluntarily dismantle it. Francisco Martín is leaving, but the responsibilities for his management remain pending," they emphasize from the SUP, who warn that the agents "cannot continue to pay the consequences of the lack of political decisions."
Francisco Martín submitted his resignation on Sunday as Government delegate, as confirmed by sources from his environment and also socialists to Europa Press. The resignation comes after being left out of the PSOE lists for the elections on November 29 and amid controversy over the camp at Puerta del Sol.