Spain: Police files attacked
01 March 1995
The police in Valencia created files which identified people with a whole series of characteristics: "race", "drug addict", "alcoholic", "aids", "hepatitis", "madness" and "epilepsy". Under "other characteristics were: "transvestite", "gay", "pederast", "exhibitionist" and "voyeur". The final report of the commission of investigation identified four police officers, four police officials in the information unit and a doctor, but tried to say their activities were unauthorised.
However, this was not an isolated case. In the village of Silla (Autonomous Community of Valencia) the police compiled over the last five years 158 files including characteristics such as "gay", "gipsy", "drug addict", South African Race", "unattached" (referring to unmarried couples).
The Gay Committee and Anti-aids Committee, as well as the Colectivo Transexualia, have condemned the keeping of such files and the local ombudsman has made an official complaint.
Kontrola Kontrolpean, Donostia, Euskadi (Spain).