Guardia Civil (Spain)

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See Guardia Civil for other meanings of the phrase


Patrol boat.
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Patrol boat.

The Guardia Civil is a Spanish police force with both military and civilian functions. It was founded in 1844 by Queen Isabel II of Spain after the First Carlist War to assure the occupation in the newly created border zone at the Pyrenees. It is similar to the Italian Carabinieri and French Gendarmerie. The Guardia Civil was accused of war crimes, torture and atrocities during the Spanish Civil War and the long rule of Generalissimo Francisco Franco, but is generally considered to have been well-reformed in order to fulfil its police duties in Spain's contemporary democratic society.

Since its membership is considered military, they are not permitted to join trade unions, unlike the parallel National Police.

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