The local police is a body that depends on the Town Hall and its functions are limited to the municipal boundaries, except in extraordinary cases outside the said area.
The functions of the local police and Guardia Civil are regulated by Law 2/86 Forces and Bodies of Security, likewise this law establishes the jurisdiction of the Guardia Civil, National Police and the Regional police forces.
1. The Local Police forces should exercise the following functions:
a) To protect the authority of the local corporations & watch over and guard their buildings and facilities.
b) To order, sign and direct traffic in the town area in accordance with establish traffic laws.
c) To take statements under oath regarding driving accidents within the town limits.
d) To carry out administration relative to orders, proclamations and other municipal statutes within the scope of their jurisdiction.
e) To participate in judicial functions of the police (investigating crimes), in this case the local police collaborates with the Guardia Civil.
f) To provide ancillary help, in the event of accidents, catastrophe or public calamity, participating, as laid out in the laws, in the execution of the plans for Civil Protection.
g) To carry out formalities regarding prevention & all such activity to avoid the commission of punishable crimes within the framework of collaboration established in the political council for Security (Junta de Seguridad) (minor crimes.)
h) To guard pubic areas and collaborate with Forces and Security Units of the State and with the Police from the Autonomous Communities in protecting demonstrations and maintaining order where large crowds congregate when required for this purpose.
i) To cooperate in resolving private conflicts as and when required.
Similarly the local Police also act in an educative role in imparting knowledge to young people and adults regarding traffic rules and the use of protective systems (helmets, seat belts and child safety seats).
Currently in large cities such as Bilbao (Basque Country), there are local police units that are dedicated to the investigation of certain crimes with established major specialist Local Police forces, but this are very few cases. Likewise in cities such as Valencia and Alicante and areas with large populations, there are specialised units for Environment, Gender related violence, Mounted police, Crowd control, Traffic, Education about traffic.
With reference to the difference between Local Police and the Guardia Civil, the latter is a military body that is state dependent. The following will be performed by the Guardia Civil:
a. To deal with issues arising from active legislation about weapons and explosives.
b. To guard state funds and to prevent and pursue smuggling.
c. To keep surveillance of traffic, traffic flow and transport on public highways between towns.
d. To protect terrestrial communications, coasts, frontiers and borders, airports and centres, and facilities that require protecting due to their importance.
e. To ensure compliance with statutes for tending nature conservation and the environment, water resources, as well as hunting resources, fish stocks, forests and other issues related to nature.
f. To convey convicted prisoners and detainees between towns.g. Any other issues that pertains to current legislation.