Basque policewomen accuse ex-partner colleagues of abuse

Several female Ertzaintza officers suffer gender violence from their ex-partners, also police officers, feeling unprotected and without internal information for their defense.

## The double face of the law in the Ertzaintza

Being a police officer should be synonymous with security, both for citizens and for those who wear the uniform. However, the reality for some **Ertzaintza** officers is quite different. Two of them, whose identities are protected under fictitious names, have spoken out to denounce an alarming situation: being victims of abuse and harassment by their ex-partners, who coincidentally are also members of the same police force. A cruel paradox that leaves them in a position of extreme vulnerability within the very institution that should protect them. The seriousness of the situation is aggravated by the lack of information and the apparent lack of protection they feel, even when the aggressors have been convicted in court. The system, which is supposed to ensure the safety of victims, seems to fail resoundingly within its ranks.

The case of **Bego**, for example, is heartbreaking. Her ex-partner, also an Ertzaintza officer, tried to throw her down a ravine after forcing her off the road while she was cycling. An act of brutal violence that, fortunately, did not have fatal consequences thanks to the intervention of other cyclists and a couple passing by. The court ruling was clear: six months in prison, deprivation of the right to bear arms, and a restraining order. The sentence was later increased on appeal, although it was suspended on condition of no reoffending. Similarly, **Ane**, another officer, suffered weeks of harassment from her ex-partner, who even placed spikes on her car wheels on five occasions. The video surveillance cameras installed by Ane recorded the aggressor 'in flagrante', leading to his conviction for harassment and damage.

## Bureaucracy and lack of information, another obstacle

One of the most critical points highlighted by these victims is the lack of internal information. They claim that in the Ertzaintza there is a protocol for everything, even for the coffee machine, but in cases of gender violence perpetrated by colleagues, information flows drop by drop, if at all. "The least I ask for is information, to know if my aggressor is working, if he has been disciplined, if they are going to take away his weapon... so that I can at least defend myself," one of them demands. This opacity generates a feeling of helplessness, forcing victims to be constantly alert, not knowing if they will run into their aggressor at work or on duty.

The comparison with the case of **Laura Cruz**, the Civil Guard officer murdered by her ex-husband at the Llanes barracks in August **2026**, is inevitable and highlights the urgency of these problems. Although Laura's aggressor had been convicted of abuse and had his weapon removed, he managed to access the barracks and commit the murder. This tragic event, which shocked the country, served to reflect on risk management and the need to warn victims to anticipate critical moments. Incivil lawyer **Ana Cal Estrela**, specialized in gender violence, stressed on social media the importance of this communication to prevent dangerous situations.

## The weight of the profession and the "black cloud"

Paradoxically, being a police officer can become a double-edged sword for victims of gender violence. "Being a police officer has harmed me as a victim of gender violence because it is assumed that I know how to defend myself," admits one of the officers. This presumption of self-defense can lead to an underestimation of risk and less protection from the institution. The "black cloud", that oppressive and controlling atmosphere woven by the aggressor, is exacerbated when the victim has self-defense knowledge, as the aggressor may perceive it as a challenge or, ironically, as a reason to intensify his control.

Bego's aggressor, for example, reported her dozens of times, a common tactic to hinder the victim's daily life, although she was always acquitted. Threats to take away her daughter, a recurring blackmail, or scratching her car, were part of a pattern of violence that lasted for years. Living together became hell, forcing Ane to change residence. The defamation campaign against her, even among colleagues, turned her into a "persona non-grata" in her town, a situation similar to Bego's. The separation process, which should be a right, turned into a legal and emotional battle, marked by antiestéticar and uncertainty.

## The risk of coinciding on duty

Protection orders, although in force, do not always guarantee total safety. Both officers have coincided with their ex-partners on duty, forcing them to withdraw or take additional precautions. "Although we are in different units and groups, they can send us to the same place," explains Ane. The lack of internal communication about the presence of an aggressor on the same duty generates high-risk situations. The justification of the Data Protection Law, which prevents informing the victim if her aggressor has been disciplined or had his weapon removed, is seen by them as an excuse to think more about the aggressor than the victim. The need for them to be the ones to report changes in the car or the presence of their ex-partner underscores the urgency of reforming protocols and guaranteeing fluid and effective communication for the protection of the officers.