Andorra Police Union Slams Conviction of Officers for Illegal Detention

Police Union Calls for Clearer Guidelines After Conviction of Two Officers

Andorra's CFPA demands better coordination with judiciary to prevent future cases of illegal detention

The Col·lectiu de Funcionaris de Policia d'Andorra (CFPA), the only active police union, has voiced deep concern over a Tribunal de Corts ruling convicting two officers of illegal detention in the first instance. The case stems from an incident in December 2020 involving a citizen in pyjamas.

Police ranks are grappling with unease, frustration and confusion, the CFPA said in a statement. The officers followed long-standing instructions and protocols in place for around 20 years, dating back to the 2005 Penal Code's implementation. During the trial, the agents argued they acted according to their training and established practices within the force, a point corroborated by other police structure members.

The union highlighted that prosecutors eventually dropped the charges, citing an excusable error, and internal protocols were later updated for such situations. It stressed this was not an isolated interpretation by the two officers but a widespread approach applied for nearly two decades without prior legal issues surfacing.

While respecting the court's independence and any appeals process, the CFPA rejected any pursuit of impunity. It argued the focus should not be on assigning blame but preventing recurrences through institutional improvements. "This is not about finding culprits but ensuring it does not happen again," the statement read.

The union called the situation a potential turning point, urging permanent communication channels between police leadership, the Batllia and the Fiscalia. It proposed regular meetings to review procedures open to legal interpretation doubts, spot criteria discrepancies and promptly relay changes to officers.

"We should not wait for two police officers to end up in court for a discrepancy over a procedure maintained for years to emerge," the CFPA noted. "If criteria need correction or adaptation to legal interpretations, they must be identified and communicated clearly beforehand, so consequences do not fall solely on those applying them."

The group emphasised citizens' rights to a professional, proportionate police force respectful of their entitlements, while officers deserve clear rules and secure procedures. Protecting agents through clarity also safeguards institutions, rights and public safety, it added.

The CFPA insisted it seeks no privileges, only clarity, coordination, prevention, legal certainty and shared institutional responsibility. The case, regardless of appeals, should prompt reviews to avoid similar outcomes.