As part of the international Erasmus+ exchange programme implemented by the Police Academy in Szczytno, a group of students had a unique opportunity to complete internships at the Spanish unit Jefatura General de Andalucía Oriental in Almería. These internships enabled the participants to gain direct insight into the functioning and structure of the Spanish security services, as well as the daily work of officers from various units of the Policía Nacional.

The exchange programme was extremely intensive and rich in experience. The students took part in motorized patrols around the city and also participated in operations connected with securing a football match. They were thus able to observe methods of ensuring safety during large-scale public events.

During the internship, the participants observed the work of officers from the Unidad de Prevención y Reacción (UPR) – a unit responsible for crisis response, restoring public order, and ensuring security in particularly high-risk areas. Their observations included road checks, personal searches, and preventive measures.

An important element of the programme were visits to different units of both the Policía Nacional and the Policía Local, where the organizational structure, tasks, and daily activities of both formations were presented. The students also had the opportunity to learn about the Guardia Civil, which allowed them to better understand the system of competence distribution among the three main security services in Spain.

Of particular value was the visit to the Centro de Atención Temporal de Extranjeros (CATE) in Almería – a center dealing with the reception of irregular migrants. Issues related to migration and cooperation between the Spanish services and the Frontex agency were discussed there. The participants learned about the procedures for identifying migrants arriving by sea, methods of legalizing their stay, and the measures undertaken to combat cross-border crime.

Another important point of the programme was observing the work of the social communication team and the crime prevention team, which are especially responsible for educational activities and crime prevention initiatives.

Thanks to this exchange, our students not only significantly broadened their knowledge of international security systems but also gained valuable, practical skills. Direct observation of the working methods of Spanish officers allowed them to better understand the challenges related to ensuring public safety and the importance of international cooperation among law enforcement services.