The nine members passed a selection process involving 14 officers, and now face the most intensive part of their training. In December, they will receive training from the Interior Ministry on the VioGén system, as well as additional training from the Local Police, covering theoretical and practical content. If everything follows the planned schedule, Égida will begin operating in early 2027. Chueca described them as “nine men and women who will make history” in a police force that celebrated its 175th anniversary last year and is now expanding its responsibilities.
ROLE
What exactly will they do? They will be responsible for assisting 30% of women classified as low risk within VioGén, a task previously carried out by the National Police and the Civil Guard. The idea is that, by distributing cases among more professionals, each officer will assist fewer women and be able to offer them more personal support. They will provide individualized follow-up, review how the level of risk evolves and draw up a Personalized Safety Plan, with self-protection guidelines and specific recommendations for minors. A low risk level does not mean the situation is static: circumstances can change and require stronger measures.
The road to this point has not been easy, as the mayor herself acknowledged: “It has been years of work, negotiations and also noise.” The agreement for Zaragoza to join VioGén, a system in force since 2007, was signed in March this year. Chueca credited her predecessor, Jorge Azcón, with first presenting the proposal to the city council and opening negotiations with the Interior Ministry.
Local Police is not starting from scratch in this area. It responds to calls for help, protects victims and arrests perpetrators when necessary: last year, it made more than 300 arrests related to gender-based violence. Égida will allow it to take a further step and support women after the initial intervention as well. The mayor wanted to send them a message: “They are not alone. They have an entire city behind them, as well as a Local Police force that has decided to take a stand to protect them.”
