President Chivite regards the Foral Police as a leading institution in Navarre and a symbol of its self‑government
The President of Navarre, María Chivite Navascués, presided this Saturday over the event held at the Baluarte auditorium on the occasion of Foral Police Day, where she reaffirmed the Navarrese police force as “a leading institution” in the Community, as well as a “symbol of self-government.”
During her address, Chivite warned that “there is an increasing effort to spread doubt about our security and to cast suspicion about a supposed impunity of offenders that does not reflect reality.” She therefore called on the people of Navarre “not to allow that shadow to spread,” noting that “instilling fear is the first step toward reducing rights and opportunities.”
Thus, she insisted that “Navarre cannot fall into that trap,” and that “when faced with fear, we must safeguard coexistence.” In this regard, Chivite recalled that “the Foral Police has once again been the best‑rated institution in Navarre in the Citizen Confidence Survey published in December,” and emphasized that the regional force is “a key resource for addressing the new challenges we have ahead.”
President Chivite also conveyed during the event the Government of Navarre’s “full and determined” commitment to the Foral Police, along with its intention to provide “maximum support for the work carried out to advance its modernization, positioning, and recognition.” In this line, she explained that the short‑term political objective of the Regional Government is precisely to work on increasing the force’s staffing levels in a way that is consistent with “a comprehensive police service that holds exclusive competencies and seeks to continue growing in resources and functions.”
Defense of Safety and Equality
The President took the opportunity to review the work carried out by the Foral Police over the past year. She noted that in 2025 the regional force processed 46,181 cases, recalling as well that behind each one of them there was “at least one person seeking protection, restitution, or justice,” and that they “trusted in the professionalism of the Foral Police.”
Chivite also highlighted her commitment to the institution: “Since I became President, the public resources allocated to the Foral Police have increased by 63%,” she explained, also noting that the Regional Government has raised the number of officers “to its historic peak.”
In particular, the President dedicated part of her speech to efforts against gender‑based violence. She noted that in 2025 the Foral Police handled 1,082 cases of violence against women and pointed out that the force currently provides protection to 700 women. In tackling an issue where she believes there is still “a long way to go,” especially in a week “particularly painful due to the recent murder of a woman in Navarre,” she stressed that “the responsibility for stopping machismo is collective.”
In this regard, she stated that Navarre “has never devoted more resources than it does now to combating and eradicating gender‑based violence, one of the most serious forms of inequality,” and pledged, as President, that the Government of Navarre will continue this commitment.
Chivite specifically highlighted the work of the Foral Police’s Assistance Brigade. She emphasized the advances made in supporting and protecting women since its creation, particularly the establishment at the end of 2024 of a team of officers assigned to ensure that each victim has a designated officer as a point of reference—an approach she described as “simple but highly effective in providing human warmth to victims who sometimes must endure the added coldness of bureaucracy.”
She concluded by stating that her Government seeks to build a Foral Police that is “more feminist, more egalitarian, fair, and capable.”
Traffic Competencies
During the ceremony, President Chivite also referred to the return of traffic‑related competencies to Navarre. Formalized through an agreement with the State in March 2025, she noted that the Foral Police conducted more than 152,000 alcohol tests and more than 9,000 drug tests throughout 2025.
These figures, in the President’s view, demonstrate the Foral Police’s ability to “assume exclusive responsibility for traffic control and enforcement in Navarre,” in a “complex and gradual process that should be fully implemented within two years.”
Distinctions for Distinguished Service
The event took place in the exhibition hall of Baluarte and was presided over by the President of Navarre, María Chivite, together with the President of the Parliament of Navarre, Unai Hualde; the Minister of Interior, Public Service and Justice, Inma Jurío; the Director‑General of Interior, Salvador Diez; and the Chief of the Foral Police, Iván Ortueta, among other authorities and members of the Regional Government.
During the ceremony, 51 public commendations and 36 distinguished service medals were awarded to officers of the Foral Police and other law enforcement agencies. For instance, two Mossos d’Esquadra officers were recognized for their participation in a joint anti‑drug operation (Operation IRAULI), which dismantled a criminal organization dedicated to robbing trucks transporting drugs. For the same case, the work of the judge of Court of Instruction No. 3 was also highlighted.
Additionally, 15 honorary plaques were presented to individuals and collaborating organizations. Notably, a citizen was honored for intervening in a gender‑based violence case, rescuing the victim and her daughter and sheltering them in his home until judicial authorities arrived. Recognition was also given to the UDARE Association, composed of around thirty Foral Police officers, whose goal is to prevent suicidal behavior within the force and provide mutual support among officers.
The event was accompanied by performances from the Foral Police choir “Voces Forales‑Foru Ahotsak,” which performed the Hymn of Navarre and the works Goizeko Izarra (“Morning Star”) and El Roncalés (Zortziko), by composer Salvador Ruiz de Luna.
More than 121,000 calls answered in 2025
According to data published in the Foral Police’s annual report, a total of 121,147 calls were answered last year, and 46,181 cases and files were processed.
In the area of Citizen Security, 4,647 complaints were recorded, and 30,991 in Road Safety. Notably, 152,841 alcohol tests were carried out, resulting in 1,218 positive reports, and 9,379 drug tests, with 2,482 positives. In total, over 162,220 vehicles were subject to speed and transport checks.
Furthermore, 1,920 people were arrested and 888 investigated. Most arrests—1,654—were related to criminal offenses. As for those investigated, 612 were involved in road safety‑related offenses.
Regarding training activities, 60 courses were held in 2025, totaling 4,375 hours and attended by 1,930 students. In addition, 896 activities related to road safety education were organized for Preschool, Primary, and Secondary students.
Meanwhile, the canine unit participated in 330 drug‑related operations (including checks and searches in homes and establishments), 12 searches for missing persons in Navarre, and 27 demonstrations.
Source: navarra.es
