Zaragoza’s new police “Unidad Égida” draws only nine volunteers

The Zaragoza City Council launched the Unidad Égida of the Local Police to protect victims of gender‑based violence under the VioGén model. A meeting on Wednesday with union representatives, councilor Ángel Lorén and VioGén delegate Ruth Bravo revealed that just nine officers – less than 0.7 % of the force of more than 1,100 – have applied to join the unit.

Unions CCOO, CSIF, CSL, OSTA, UGT, STAZ and Forzapol denounced the result as a failure of the model designed by Mayor Natalia Chueca, not a staffing shortfall. They argue that low interest stems from unilateral working‑conditions, inadequate compensation for permanent availability, lack of recognition for specialized training, and overall uncertainty about the unit’s operation. The unions say the process has been marked by improvisation, with the negotiation carried out without union backing, contradictory conditions, and no clear timeline for when the unit will become operational or how the eight planned positions will be filled.