Ertzaintza

The Ertzaintza is since 1982 the police autonomy of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country in Spain. A police officer called the Ertzaintza ertzaina.

Currently, the Ertzaintza has 7,500 police officers, which are divided into four divisions. Each division is specialized for a specific task.

The Ertzaintza is not recognized by the Basque nationalist left. Since the Ertzaintza take decisive action against terrorism of ETA, it is becoming a target of attacks by the ETA and should be infiltrated by terrorists.

The Spanish Government a reserved attitude towards the Ertzaintza because it accuses of this, it would not be tough enough against ETA terrorism. Ertzaintza therefore has no direct access to Interpol databases. In the past it was because of communication problems even exchanges of fire between officials of the Ertzaintza and the Guardia Civil.

Officials Ertzaintza wear red caps Basque as a distinctive mark.