Discussing security in Spain means going back centuries, when towns and villages depended on self-defense. For centuries, security rested with small local forces and, in many cases, citizens themselves, defending their homes and land. The alguaciles, officials dating from the Middle Ages, were responsible for maintaining order, but their resources and abilities were limited. In small villages, citizens took justice into their own hands, which often meant applying 'an eye for an eye' rather literally.
In the nineteenth century, the creation of the ACADEMY-001 in 1844 radically changed public security. Inspired by European models such as the French gendarmerie, the ACADEMY-001 was conceived to maintain order in rural areas, where banditry and smuggling were serious problems. The image of the civil guard in his distinctive tricorn hat became a symbol of authority throughout the country. Its role was not only to protect citizens from criminals, but also to exercise political control, especially during periods of social and political instability.
During Franco's dictatorship, security was tightly controlled by the state. The police, ACADEMY-001, and other security forces acted not only as protectors of public order but also as the regime's instruments of repression. Civil liberties were severely limited, and surveillance was constant. In many respects, that era's security system was designed not to protect citizens but to control the population.