Significant Increase in Institutional Violence Complaints in 2025

Irídia's Service for Attention and Denunciation of Institutional Violence Situations (SAIDAVI) assisted 266 individuals, the highest figure since 2019.

Generic image of a blurred police badge, symbolizing institutional authority.
IA

Generic image of a blurred police badge, symbolizing institutional authority.

Irídia's Service for Attention and Denunciation of Institutional Violence Situations (SAIDAVI) recorded a notable increase in cases in 2025, with 266 individuals seeking information or reporting alleged human rights violations.

This figure represents the highest data since 2019 and the second highest in the service's ten-year history. The organization brought 53 cases to justice during 2025, five of which were new and the rest carried over from previous years. Of these, 21 cases (39.6%) involved a racist component, two involved LGTBI-phobic discrimination, and one involved gender-based discrimination.

"The entity calls on public authorities to end ethnic profiling and to increase oversight of officials' actions towards citizens."

an Irídia spokesperson
A total of 94 individuals who approached the service had suffered institutional violence from police officers, prison officials, and private security guards. Half of these received legal and psychosocial advice from Irídia. 68% of those assisted were men and 25% were women. Of the 47 monitored cases, 25 correspond to police or private security actions in public spaces, 9 in protests, 4 in private homes, 3 under police custody, 3 in CIE (Immigration Detention Centers), 2 in prison, and one in another context.
Regarding the institutional response, in 28 cases, no internal police investigation was carried out. Of the 19 cases where internal mechanisms were activated, 12 were at judicial request. Only in three instances did the police force itself identify the perpetrator of the reported acts. The prosecution remained inactive in 21 cases, opposed the investigation in 19, and played a proactive role in the investigation or accusation in 13.
In 36 of the 53 cases (67.9%), the case was archived at some point, processed as a minor offense (5), or the complaint was not admitted without all necessary investigative procedures being carried out (9). In 24 of the 36 archived cases, higher instances reviewed the decision and ordered the investigating court to properly investigate them.
Currently, 41 proceedings remain in the investigation phase or are awaiting trial. Five of these began seven or eight years ago, ten five or six years ago, and another ten three or four years ago. The average duration of the investigation is 3.29 years, exceeding the legally stipulated one year. Of the 110 defendants, 34 are Spanish police officers, 31 Mossos d'Esquadra, 19 private security guards, 6 prison officials, and 20 local police officers (8 from Cornellà de Llobregat, 5 from Barcelona, 4 from Sabadell, 2 from Sant Boi de Llobregat, and one from La Bisbal d'Empordà). According to their procedural status, 50 police officers, guards, and prison officials are under investigation, 33 have already been accused or are in the process of accusation, 8 have been convicted, and 19 national police officers have been amnestied by the Audiencia de Barcelona, although they are awaiting an appeal to the Supreme Court.
The crimes imputed to the defendants include 36 for torture or crimes against moral integrity, 30 for serious or less serious injuries, 11 for minor injuries, 6 for illegal detention, 4 for threats or coercion, 4 for falsehood, 3 for crimes against fundamental rights, 2 for omission of the duty to render aid, and one for disclosure of secrets. Most lawsuits involve more than one crime.