BOGUS POLICEMEN?

The AA site re driving in Spain (we'll be taking our car to Spain for 2 months from February 5th to April 3rd) mentions that we should be wary of theft by Bogus policemen, particularly in Madrid and Catalunya. We'll be in Catalunya for 4 weeks. How can we tell if we're stopped by a bogus Policeman versus a genuine Policeman?  What do we do if we're stopped on the road?  Hopefully, someone on this site will be able to advise...

It’s a problem in Spain particularly if you drive a foreign registered vehicle. You’re a target so just be aware of it especially on the motorways around Barcelona. Another is a car coming along side and the occupants pointing to your wheels and encouraging you to stop. Ignore them.

Police in Spain never work alone on major highways they are always in large groups usually with methods to stop you if you ignore them. If you are stopped by what appears to be a police car stay in your car with windows and doors locked. Take out your mobile visibly and call 112 and request help. The police if they are genuine will wait for identity clearance. They are required to provide you with their badge identity number which is on their uniform shirt. Aso real police are required to carry a visible sidearm. Check the policeman who speaks to you actually has one.

A useful app to have in spain is the free ‘alert cops’.  When using it one does not need to

be able to speak Spanish 

from on the Internet. 

From the website of the Ministry of Interior:

¨AlertCops is a citizen security alert system of the State Law Enforcement Authorities (FFCCSE in Spanish)

The goal is to create a universal access to every public citizen security service, so any person, regardless their language, origin or auditory or vocal disability, can send to the State Law Enforcement Authorities (Police and Civil Guard) an alert about a crime or security incident whether they are victims or witnesses of such.¨

AlertCops works with geolocalisation of the transmitting device so that the relevant authorities in the area can be alerted.

Started in August last year in Málaga, Alicante and Madrid, expected to be introduced in the rest of Spain during 2015.

Update August 2016. Regions where AlertCop is supposed to be applicable. 

-Andalucía, Islas Baleares, Canarias, Comunitat Valenciana, Madrid y Murcia. Also Ceuta y Melilla,

The N332.es website has a lot of information on this problem.

Mark

Many thanks for your advice and help with some really useful information.  I'll take a look at that site, Marksfish...