The Security Counselor of the Basque Government, Bingen Zupiria, has demanded from the National Police a "greater involvement" in Euskadi regarding immigration and foreign affairs in light of the presence of migrants in irregular situations who commit crimes repeatedly, and has emphasized that "there is work for everyone and each one must assume the responsibility that corresponds to them."
In an interview granted to Radio Euskadi and reported by Europa Press, he referred to the statements of the president of the EBB of the PNV, Aitor Esteban, in which he urged civil guards and agents of the National Police stationed in Euskadi to "go to Ceuta" to address the migration crisis because "they need them there." Zupiria pointed out that, with the current distribution of functions among the Ertzaintza, local police, the National Police, and the Civil Guard, "there is work for everyone and each one must assume the responsibility that corresponds to them."
In this line, he admitted that he would like to see "a greater involvement, especially from the National Police, in all matters related to immigration and foreign affairs." As he pointed out, "there is an area where the National Police can do more than they do and I would like them to be more effective and more efficient in that matter."
The Security official explained that "there are irregular situations that occur in our community that have to do with people who find themselves in an irregular situation and commit crimes repeatedly" and reiterated that "the involvement of the National Police should be greater when it comes to sharing information, identifying individuals, and drafting the corresponding reports so that justice takes the measures it needs to take." "I believe there is work for everyone and each one must assume theirs," he insisted.
"Recurring issue" with Interior
Regarding the complaint made by his Department following the arrests carried out by the National Police during the incidents recorded in Bilbao on the day of the World Cup final, he indicated that they have not yet received a response, although he specified that it is "a recurring issue" that they will bring up again in the next technical and political meetings with the Ministry of the Interior.
In any case, he has emphasized that it is "a legal and legality issue" and has reminded that in the Statute of Autonomy "it is perfectly clarified what corresponds to be developed by the National Police and the Civil Guard and it is perfectly established that the police of the Basque society, which bets on it in the Statute of Autonomy democratically, is the Ertzaintza."
In this sense, he has pointed out that "there are subsequent political agreements where it is perfectly delineated how those functions and competencies are going to be distributed" and that, "as a consequence of that agreement on the delimitation of services came an adjustment of the presence of the Civil Guard and the National Police."
As he has recalled, "because it was supposed that the forces that remained in Euskadi remained to address those issues related to some fiscal and tariff matters, the control of weapons and explosives, immigration and foreign affairs." "It is about all of us complying with what is legally and juridically established," he has emphasized.
Origin of the detainees and victims
Regarding the decision to make public the origin of the detained persons, Zupiria has explained that "the decision to publish the origin not only of the detained persons but also the origin of all the victims of the criminal acts about which information was provided has had, first of all, a positive effect, because it has led the Basque media to reflect on this fact, which was a controversial issue."
Likewise, he considers this practice "positive" because "there are occasions when citing the geographical origin of the people involved in some incidents or infractions helps to understand what is happening."
"In addition to stating the facts and providing data about them, in addition to the Ertzaintza and local police doing their job, it is also our responsibility to inform and explain the contexts in which the criminal acts occur," he has defended.