Udaltzaingoa

Udaltzaingoa is the Basque term for a municipal police force, the local police service that operates under the authority of a town or city council to enforce municipal ordinances and maintain public order within a municipality. In Basque-language contexts it designates the police units responsible for local policing, functioning alongside the Basque regional police Ertzaintza and other national policing authorities.

The term is used in Basque-speaking areas to name the local police, with examples such as Bilboko Udaltzaingoa (Bilbao) or Donostiako Udaltzaingoa (San Sebastián). In many Spanish-speaking contexts the equivalent term is Policía Local, but the Basque form is commonly used where Basque is the official or prevalent language.

Governance and powers: The municipal council establishes and funds the udaltzaingoa, and officers are employed by the municipality. The force’s duties typically include traffic control, enforcement of local ordinances, crime prevention, and assistance to residents during emergencies or large public events. For more serious offenses or formal investigations, udaltzaingoa coordinates with the Ertzaintza or other national authorities.

Training and equipment: Members undergo training in line with national and regional standards and are equipped according to procedures defined by the municipality and applicable laws. Uniforms and insignia identify the force as local police, distinct from regional or national police bodies.

See also: Basque police, Ertzaintza, Policía Local, local policing in Spain.