From 22 September to 3 October 2025, as part of the Erasmus+ scholarship programme, a third-year student of Police Science completed an international internship at the Headquarters of the Police of the Basque Country Province in Bilbao, Spain (Jefatura Superior de Policía del País Vasco).

During the internship, the student had the opportunity to participate in the daily operations carried out by various departments of the Spanish National Police. The internship began with observation of the work of officers from the Information Department (Brigada Provincial de Información), which specializes in combating terrorism—both international and domestic. The student became familiar with operational methods and threat analysis in the region.

Another part of the internship involved cooperation with officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (Brigada Provincial de Policía Judicial), responsible for fighting criminal and cybercrime. The student was able to observe investigative procedures and the use of modern investigative and technological tools in police work.

A valuable experience was also participation in the activities of the Immigration and Border Protection Department (Brigada Provincial de Extranjería y Fronteras). The student accompanied officers during operations conducted in the seaport, airport, and within the city of Bilbao. The purpose of these activities was to detect cases of illegal migration and identify victims of human trafficking.

A particularly memorable moment of the stay in Spain was attending the official celebration of the Spanish National Police Day, held in Bilbao. The ceremony brought together representatives of law enforcement agencies from across the country, providing an opportunity to showcase the traditions, ceremonial practices, and uniforms of Spanish police units. The student was also able to establish contacts with officers from various units and gain insights into the policing culture of Spain.

The internship concluded with a visit to the base of the counter-terrorist unit GOES (Grupos Operativos Especiales de Seguridad). The student had the opportunity to observe specialized demonstrations of the unit’s tactical capabilities, learn about the equipment used in high-risk operations, and participate in firearms training with both short and long weapons under the supervision of GOES instructors.

Participation in the international internship enabled the student to gain valuable practical experience, broaden their knowledge of how European police services operate, and establish professional relationships with representatives of the Spanish National Police. It was also an excellent opportunity to exchange best practices and compare organizational structures and officer training systems in Poland and Spain.