Ertzaintza union contests police use for anti-smoking enforcement at San Mamés

The Ertzaintza Professional Union (Si. P. E.) has filed a formal request with the Basque Government's Security Department to review the deployment of police officers at San Mamés stadium. The union is contesting the practice of assigning Ertzaintza officers to accompany private security guards during halftime to identify spectators violating anti-smoking laws.

According to the union, officers are being ordered to temporarily leave their primary duties to assist private security in locating smokers, an act that carries fines between 30 and 600 euros. Si. P. E. argues that while they support anti-smoking regulations, public police resources should not be used as routine escorts for private security, whose existing legal mandate already includes the prevention of such infractions within the venue.