The order was only active for “a few hours”, but it has generated quite a stir for obvious reasons. The Higher Headquarters of the National Police of the Basque Country has annulled a police order offering days off to agents of the Local Immigration and Border Brigade for detaining immigrants in Irun (Gipuzkoa).

The information has been confirmed by sources from the Government Delegation in the Basque Country. The Jupol Gipuzkoa union denounced this Tuesday on social networks the application as of July 1 of these “incentives” which, as it indicated, contemplated days of compensation depending on the number of arrests during the weekend.

According to Jupol, without any arrest, two days off would be granted, with a detainee three days of compensation would correspond, while from two onwards four days of leave would be granted, and from ten or more detainees five days off.

Jupol Gipuzkoa assured that the provision of the service in the modality of incidents is “duly regulated” and denounced that in Irun there was “a push” from the headquarters of the Brigade to “increase the number of detainees for foreigners”.

Sources from the Government Sub-delegation in the Basque Country, for their part, have confirmed the existence of said order and have explained that it was active for “a few hours”, since it was annulled by the Higher Headquarters of the National Police of the Basque Country as soon as was aware of its existence.

Likewise, the General Directorate of the Police has opened a file on the commander who signed the note in which he was aware of the police order.

Irun and, in general, the area around Bidasoa is a transit area, especially for migrants from sub-Saharan Africa heading to France or other European countries such as Belgium. Despite the fact that this area is within the Schengen area, the police presence has been increasing in recent years at border crossings, some of which have remained closed for long periods. In addition, hot returns by the Gendarmerie are common and in recent years several migrants have died trying to cross the Bidasoa River.