Alberto Ibáñez, a deputy from Compromís-Sumar, has formally questioned the Spanish government about so-called 'fascist squads' operating in Valencia’s maritime district. The parliamentary inquiry, submitted to the Congress of Deputies, points to groups such as the self-named Ángeles de la noche, whose members patrol neighborhoods including Malva-rosa in dark clothing and reflective bands. Ibáñez says the patrols present themselves as local residents concerned about security, but are organized groups accused of intimidating immigrants, particularly those of Arab origin.
The initiative describes how these groups, dressed in clothing that closely resembles official uniforms, seek to stoke fears of rising insecurity among residents and passersby. The document criticizes what it calls the squads’ impunity, contrasting it with the swift police response to recent education protests and union actions in the Valencian Community. Ibáñez’s inquiry asks the Ministry of the Interior what measures it is taking to prevent the activities of these violent groups and whether undercover agents from the State Security Forces (FCSE) are monitoring the organizations or their supporters, especially those promoting hate speech or civil unrest.
The parliamentary question also challenges what it describes as the police’s apparent tolerance of the patrols. Their actions, the inquiry says, undermine the credibility of the FCSE. Ibáñez seeks clarification on whether the groups have faced any sanctions. The area where the Ángeles de la noche operate has seen a 22% decrease in minor crimes, information from a statistic cited in the parliamentary document. The inquiry argues that the squads raise basic questions about the state’s approach to justice and the use of force in a democratic society. It warns they risk creating a parallel system of justice outside institutional oversight.
The deputy’s submission calls on the Interior Ministry and regional government delegations to ensure the law is enforced equally and to advance the democratization of institutional practices. Ibáñez notes that media reports have cited the absence of illegal acts as a reason for not intervening. He argues, but, that the patrols’ organized and intimidating nature inherently threatens public order and safety. The initiative also references Article 36.14 of the Organic Law on Citizen Security, which classifies the use of uniforms that could be mistaken for those of the FCSE as a serious offense.
Similar tensions between local authorities and security forces have surfaced elsewhere in Spain. Catalan parties, for example, demanded explanations after police actions at a football match in Elche, as detailed in this related report. Such incidents keep alive a wider debate over citizen action and police authority, particularly where civil rights are at stake in public spaces.
Spain’s legal structure assigns responsibility for public order and security to official law enforcement agencies. Unauthorized patrols or groups imitating police functions face legal scrutiny, especially when their activities intersect with discrimination or public intimidation. The debate in Valencia reflects wider national concerns about the rise of vigilante groups and the challenges they pose to democratic oversight and social cohesion.
