The UK's Foreign Ministry has issued warnings to travelers heading to Spain.
On March 20th, staff updated the gov.uk website and advised people to download the required app before their trip.
They write: “The Spanish police and civil security forces have a mobile app that offers many services, including simple and modest communication with the police when they experience or witness a crime.”
This app is called Alert Cops, which can be downloaded on Google Play here on the App Store.
The free app to download before boarding a plane is created by the Sub-Director General of Information and Communication Systems for Security (SGSICS) under the Secretary of State for the Security of the Ministry of Spain.
This means that they can communicate warnings, information, data or news about criminal conduct or security incidents that are victims or witnesses to the state's security forces and corps (police and civil security forces) regardless of their language, origin, hearing or voice disorder.
Therefore, citizens have a complementary channel to contact the national police and civil security forces in a prompt, direct, careful and effective way. ”
The app is available throughout Spain, but is not accessible in Catalonia or Basque countries.
For those concerned about privacy, authorities ensure that their location is only shared when they send alerts or choose to “activate public guardians.”
Their purpose is to:
Establish new communication channels between citizens and the military. Information Request and Response Procedures collect key data, including location, incident type, and stakeholders. Communication needs
Don't forget to download it on the Google Play App Store here.
