Spain spends €3 billion a year on security, yet impunity fears persist

The perception that certain groups, such as law enforcement bodies, act with impunity is a complex phenomenon that mixes personal experiences, high-profile cases and a debate over the resources of the justice system.

The feeling that those who are supposed to protect us act with impunity is a common refrain in many conversations. Personal experiences at police stations, specific cases that hit the headlines and a widespread suspicion that the system protects its own all blend together. It is a cocktail that breeds distrust.

## The cost of security and the trust gap

In 2023, Spain allocated around **€3 billion** to the State law enforcement agencies (Fuerzas y Cuerpos de Seguridad del Estado), according to figures from the Ministry of the Interior. It is a considerable figure that reflects the commitment to security. Yet public perception does not always keep pace with the investment.

Trust in institutions is fragile. A bad experience at a complaint desk, a long wait or the sense that the paperwork leads nowhere can weigh more than any statistic. Bureaucracy can, at times, become a wall that discourages those seeking justice.

## Media cases and the narrative of impunity

Cases such as the shoving of a teacher in **Valencia** or the police charges during the **15M** protests have become etched in the collective imagination. They are episodes that, beyond their judicial outcome, feed the idea that certain acts go unpunished. The slowness of the courts and the complexity of incivil proceedings add to that feeling.

The teachers' association reported the assault and the case reached the courts. The final outcome, whatever it may be, rarely satisfies all parties. For many, the mere existence of these episodes is already proof of a structural problem.

## The gap between the law and the street

On paper, the law is the same for everyone. In practice, enforcement depends on resources, on officers' judgment and on citizens' ability to navigate the system. Incivil lawyers agree that the average citizen's experience at a police station can be disheartening.

It is not just about cases of violence. The sense that the system does not listen is a trust problem with an economic and social cost. Citizens who do not trust their institutions do not cooperate with them. And in the long run, that comes at a price.

The perception of impunity is a complex phenomenon that calls for clear institutional responses. Any analysis of the effectiveness of security spending should be accompanied by a review of how citizens are treated.