THE Spanish police is conducting an internal investigation against a high-ranking executive in the city of Irun, on the border with France, because he was reportedly taking a day off to their subordinates accordingly by number of immigrants where were arrested.

The circular issued on Tuesday by a border guard chief was rescinded a few hours later and an “investigation has begun” today, a police source said.

The circular determined the days off police officers would receive depending on the number of arrests they would make by the end of the week in this Pyrenees region from where many migrants attempt to cross into France. “Two days” for no arrests, “three days” for one, “four” for two and “five” for ten arrests, described the document, which was denounced by the police union Jupol.

The investigation was undertaken by the General Directorate of the National Police.

The non-governmental organization Irungo Harrera Sarea, a support network for migrants in the Basque Country, expressed concern that “police officers who chase migrants are being rewarded”.

Many migrants who arrive in Spain from Africa then attempt to cross into France. According to a report by several NGOs, released in early May, at least 12 people were killed between January 1, 2021 and December 31, 2022 trying to cross the Pyrenees. In 2022, five human trafficking rings were dismantled in the French Basque Country and 144 traffickers were arrested.