With the coming of the State's political reform, the Basque Country's General Assembly, from its creation on the 4^th of January, 1978, required an autonomous police force, at the same time as the commencement of the proposal for the approval of the new Statute of Autonomy for the Basque Country.

   Of special significance in regards to public order are articles 17, 36 and Provisional Fourth Provision of the Statute of Autonomy (1979).

   As concerns the allocation of public order powers, the Statute advocates the modernisation of historical rights, which were protected and respected under Additional First Provision of the Constitution of 1978.

   The Basque Country's Autonomous Police Force was established under article 17, paragraph five, of the Statute of Autonomy, which agreed with Royal Decree of 22 December, 1980, in regards to restoring the Foral (Territorial Statutory) Corps.

CONTINUE TOUR:

   On the 29^th of April, 1980, the First Basque Government was established, and the Department of the Interior was invested, as a matter of priority, with the political responsibility of creating and developing the Basque Police.

   The first necessary step for the development of the Ertzaintza was the creation of a Basque Country's Police Academy, which was located at Arkaute, and opened on the 7^th of February, 1982 for a group of students who would later become the Academy's First Graduates.

   Today, the Ertzaintza is dispersed around the geography of the Autonomous Community, and it has a total of 7,350 ertzainas (policemen), who undertake the powers passed on to the Basque Autonomous Community in regards to policing.

Ground floor:

[MIÑONES]  [MIKELETES]  [FORAL GUARD]  [ 1936 ERTZAÑA]

First floor:

[INTRODUCTION] [CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DEPARTMENT] [ OPERATIONAL RESOURCES]