Security Technology Centre CETSE - CETSE

The current developments are very advanced and have been carried out with the requirements that both the Guardia Civil's Judicial Police Technical Unit and the National Police's Central Criminal Intelligence Unit have been defining since February 2020.

The objective of this platform is based on the development and implementation of a computer software capable of detecting coded movements based on the Facial Coding System (FACS) as well as their intensity, including micro-expressions that relate to specific emotions, in order to analyse the behaviour of a subject by the State Security Forces and Corps (FCSE).

With this system, designed to meet the specific needs of the FCSE through the recognition of micro-expressions, police investigation can improve the clarification of a crime in their interrogations even in scenarios in which the subject tries to fake emotions in order to hide the truth.

The expected results after the implementation of this project are:

• Increased accuracy of the analysis of Non Verbal Behaviour (CNV) thanks to the algorithmic support.
• Reduction of the analyst's response time, which favours the agility of the police investigation.
• Support in police investigations, allowing a more accurate response to the information provided by detainees.

The Subdirectorate General for Security Information and Communications Systems (hereinafter, SGSICS) is responsible for the study and implementation of technological means for the reinforcement of controls at the external borders of the European Union, and the provision of systems for use by the State Security Forces and Corps (FCSE), with the aim of achieving the proper functioning of the SCHENGEN Area. To this end, it is essential to have specific and ad hoc technological solutions to address the needs of the FCSE.

The SGSICS has acted as a catalyst between industry and end users, promoting projects based on state-of-the-art technology and the operational knowledge provided by FCSE, developing solutions for pattern recognition in crowded environments.

The developments have been carried out with the requirements that, since February 2020, both the National Police Special Systems Headquarters and the Operational Support Group of the Civil Guard have been defining.

The objective of this solution is the definition, design and implementation of an integrated video-surveillance platform for the analysis and recognition of behavioural patterns specially designed for the simultaneous identification of subjects in crowded and highly changing environments.

The expected results after the implementation of this project are:

• Characterisation of events in video-monitored areas of interest.
• Search for individuals based on the characterisation of their facial attributes, demographic attributes, objects and clothing.
• Identification of individuals by facial recognition.
• Identification of vehicles through number plate reading.
• Search for certain predefined objects.
• Configuration of identification, characterisation and event alarms.
• Automatic analysis in real time or on pre-recorded video.
• Export of results.

With the following expected impact:

• Improved systematisation of instant tracking and search of individuals, vehicles and objects in video surveillance scenes.
• Improvement in the security of critical areas

Regulations 2018/1240 and 2018/1241 of the European Parliament and of the Council entered into force on 9 October 2018. These regulations were published in the Official Journal of the European Union in mid-September following the adoption of the ETIAS regulation by the European Council.

Following the implementation of these regulations, the EU Agency eu-LISA, as well as the Member States, must start developing the electronic ETIAS system and build the platform to monitor future eligible citizens. The ETIAS system will be an essential tool to contribute to the security of the Schengen Area.

The ETIAS system is similar to other electronic travel permits such as ESTA (United States) or eTA (Canada). Like these, the purpose of ETIAS is to screen all travellers from eligible countries before they travel. In this particular case, the aim is to identify possible threats, fraud and risks linked to persons wishing to travel to any of the countries in the Schengen Area.

The ETIAS system is a fully electronic system that authorises and tracks travellers from countries that do not require a visa to enter the Schengen area.

ETIAS ensures a high level of security in the Union, allowing compliance with human rights and fundamental freedoms, and is an essential tool in the fight against illegal immigration, as it involves carrying out an assessment of travellers prior to their arrival at the Schengen borders. It also favours cooperation and the sharing of information between Member States, in order to prevent possible threats and terrorist attacks.

In addition, this system achieves the following

• Save time for travellers.
• Improve border management.
• Prevent illegal immigration.
• Reinforce the fight against crime and terrorism.
• Visa liberalisation.

The expected results after the implementation of this project are:

• The implementation of the border control system for the national police force and national central system ETIAS, which translates into:
  • Improved detection of potential terrorist threats.
  • Strengthening national capacity at administrative and operational level.

With the following expected impact:

• Adequacy of national systems to be able to implement the national phase of the ETIAS project on the fight against terrorism and organised crime, improving network capabilities.

On 11 June 2019 the Interoperability Regulations entered into force:

• Regulation (EU) 2019/817 establishing a framework for the interoperability of EU information systems in the field of borders and visas.
• Regulation (EU) 2019/818 establishing a framework for the interoperability of EU information systems in the area of judicial cooperation, asylum and migration.

These Regulations aim to improve EU information systems for security, border and migration management and to make them work together in a smarter and more efficient way.

Prior to the adoption of the Regulations, in April 2016, the Commission presented a Communication on "Smarter and smarter information systems for border and security management". This set out possible ways to improve the functioning of EU information systems in order to strengthen internal security and border management. In its resolution of 6 July 2016, the European Parliament called for proposals to improve and develop existing EU information systems, address information gaps and move towards interoperability, as well as its proposals on the obligation to exchange information at EU level, together with the necessary data protection safeguards.

In its conclusions of 15 December 2016, the European Council called for continuity in delivering results on the interoperability of EU information systems and databases. Interoperability between EU information systems was established to ensure that these systems and their data complement each other while respecting the fundamental rights of individuals, in particular the right to the protection of personal data.

At the time the Interoperability Regulations were adopted, three EU information systems were in operation:

• Eurodac
• Schengen Information System (SIS)
• Visa Information System (VIS)

Europe is currently updating these systems and developing new ones:

• Entry and Exit System (SES / EES)
• Travel Information and Authorisation System (SEIAV / ETIAS)
• Enrolment Information System - Third Country Nationals (ECRIS-TCN)

In accordance with the referenced Regulations and in order to establish the interoperability of EU IT systems, the following components are created:

• A European search portal (PEB / ESP) for single search and retrieval of results from all systems, authorised to access (biographic and biometric).
• A shared biometric matching service (SCB / sBMS) will allow users to efficiently search and cross-reference biometric data from several systems.
• A common identity repository (RCDI / CIR) will allow easy access to biographical information of non-EU citizens.
• A multiple identity detector (DIM/MID) that will help detect multiple identities with the dual purpose of ensuring the correct identification of bona fide individuals and combating identity fraud.

The expected results after the implementation of this project are:

• To exchange information more easily, increasing security in the EU.
• Helping to identify unknown persons.
• Improve the detection of persons with multiple identities.
• To assist in the examination of applications for international protection and in the prevention, detection and investigation of terrorist offences or other serious crimes.

With the following expected impact:

• To combat crime and terrorism at European level.
• To ensure public security.

Since the attacks of September 2001, the European Union has recognised the importance and significance of collecting and analysing passenger data for the prevention and fight against organised crime and terrorism.

The abolition of internal border controls under the Schengen Convention encouraged the European Union to make it a necessity to check air passengers against police databases and to exchange such information with other Member States.

Therefore, on 27 April 2016, the European Directive 2016/681 on the use of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data for the prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of organised crime and terrorism was adopted and its implementation is mandatory for all Member States. The PNR Directive and its subsequent transposition into Organic Law 1/2020, regulates the transfer of such data to the law enforcement authorities of the Member States, as well as the processing of such data for the purposes of prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution.

Based on the above, the PNR system collects information from airlines operating in national territory - with the exception of domestic flights - and compares their passenger data with police databases, located in the State Secretariat for Security. The main objective is to identify passengers related to terrorism and/or organised crime, and it also has the capacity to share information with other bodies responsible for this area, both at national level and with other Member States, favouring a joint fight at European level.

This system, which responds to the requirements expressed by the Commission, was developed and implemented by the SGSICS through different dossiers for equipment, licensing, customised developments and monitoring.

The results obtained after the implementation of this project are:

• Increased detection of possible terrorist threats.
• Automatic checking of passengers for persons belonging to terrorist groups and/or organised crime.
• Increase in the number of cross-checks with police databases.
• Technological updating, monitoring and control of the system.
• Control and monitoring of system status.

With the following expected impact:

• Reduction of information matching efforts in the face of terrorism and organised crime investigations.
• Increased internal security in the Schengen area.
• To have greater control over the system.

With regard to these three services, it should be noted that the European Union Council Decisions 2008/615/JHA and 2008/616/JHA of 6 August 2008 (known as the Prüm Decisions) regulate, among other matters, the exchange between EU countries of data on vehicles and their owners in the field of cross-border police cooperation.

• Early Warning: The system allows the sending and receiving through the European Communications Network STESTA of alarms on the theft of explosives, weapons and CBRN (Nuclear Radioactive Biological Chemical) material between the countries of the European Union, when a terrorist organisation is suspected to be behind the theft.
• SCl: This system allows the appropriate processing of investigations relating to drug trafficking and organised crime currently originating in the State Security Forces and Corps (FCSE), the Mossos d'Escuadra Corps of the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Deputy Directorate of Customs Surveillance.
• SIMASC (Mobility Information System for Citizen Security Alerts): Information system through which citizens can report citizen security alerts to the FCSE based on location and be processed in an integrated manner with traditional systems, speeding up crime prevention and response.

The objective of this project is the acquisition of a technical support service to provide maintenance and support for those systems located in the SGSICS aimed at the fight against terrorism, organised crime and guaranteeing a high level of security at European borders.

This service includes both transversal services for the systems and tasks related to the corrective, adaptive and evolutionary maintenance of the base application/s, as well as support for the different police forces and clients of the systems in general.

Among the cross-cutting services and areas of work included are:

• Management and coordination of services.
• 24*7 Service and response.
• Quality assurance services.
• Testing services with clients or users of the system.
• Knowledge transfer at the end of the contract.
• Specialised services in consultancy, management, monitoring and regulatory and technical documentation, both for the maintenance of the current means that make up the system and for the extension and improvement of the same.

The expected results after the implementation of this project are:

• Availability of a 24x7 service to respond to possible system failures.
• Provision of personnel specialised in the systems and equipment covered by the project.
• Verification by means of tests of the correct functioning of the systems.
• Updating of the systems to the most recent approved versions.
• Management and coordination of needs for the evolution of systems.

With the following expected impact:

• Reduction of system recovery time in the event of downtime.
• Early detection of future problems through preventive maintenance.
• Improvements in security by having updated systems.

The SAID system has been in operation since 1986 and allows the storage and matching of fingerprints of arrested persons with latent images collected at the scene of a crime.

The competent authorities share the same database and application for managing fingerprints. In the case of the Ertzaintza, it has its own SAID, which has been exchanging data with the Central SAID electronically since the beginning of 2015.

Fingerprints and related police information are exchanged with the rest of the EU countries under the European Union Council Decisions 2008/615/JHA and 2008/616/JHA of 6 August 2008 on cross-border cooperation (Prum Decisions). A collaboration agreement has also been signed with the USA.

The major advances in technology, together with changes in national and European regulations, as well as those expressed by end users, make corrective and evolutionary maintenance of the system necessary.

Its main objective is to provide fingerprint information in the field of criminal investigations, so that the system enables the fight against crime, organised crime and terrorism.

Apart from the use of the SAID to cover national law enforcement needs in the scenarios of common crime, terrorism and organised crime, it should be noted that it is not an isolated system in itself, but is connected to other international and European systems, enabling the exchange of fingerprints in the fields of INTERPOL, EUROPOL and EURODAC.

This system allows information to be shared and compared between the different systems of the European Union countries, as well as with the EURODAC system, making it possible to identify persons who have cases pending before the courts, which facilitates the prevention and fight against crime.

The expected results after the implementation of this project are:

• Improved and increased provision of equipment.
• Expansion of the capabilities of the automatic fingerprint identification system (SAID).

With the following expected impact:

• Reinforcement of the capabilities of the FCSE for the prevention and fight against organised crime and terrorism.

In July 2000, the SIRDEE network (Sistema Integral de Radiocomunicaciones Digitales de Emergencia del Estado) was launched with the aim of replacing and homogenising the old analogue networks of the National Police and the Guardia Civil, providing the FCSE with a common radio communication system.

With SIRDEE, the 091 and 062 rooms of the National Police and Guardia Civil respectively have been modernised, providing better communication systems, being an emergency management tool that reduces response time in emergency response. It has demonstrated its high availability in events where public communications networks have had overload problems preventing communication in many cases.

Currently, the SIRDEE Network is fully operational throughout the national territory, providing service to 71,810 terminals corresponding to the FCSE and Defence and 1,533 terminals of other users (Local Police, Civil Protection Services, Emergency Services...) that also use this network.

Due to technological evolution and possible attacks and cyber-attacks, the FCSE is obliged to periodically update this system.

The Integrated State Emergency Digital Radiocommunications System Service is an indispensable tool in the fight against terrorism, drug trafficking and organised crime, due to the great evolution of technologies and the large amount of resources made available by terrorist and organised crime groups.

The objective of the project focuses on the fight against organised crime and terrorist groups in order to ensure the security of the European Union, as well as:

• To enable the coordination and interoperability of the FCSE in emergency situations in Spanish territory.
• Promote the incorporation into the SIRDEE network of other bodies, forces and services with security responsibilities.
• Modernise the 091 and 062 rooms, of the National Police and Guardia Civil respectively, providing better communication systems and allowing for a reduction in emergency response time.

The expected results after the implementation of this project are:

• Improved detection of potential terrorist threats.
• Strengthened national capacity at administrative and operational level.

With the following expected impact:

• Maintenance of the SIRDEE network in the field of the fight against terrorism and organised crime, improving the capabilities of the network.

Due to the increased accessibility and use of different technologies, including those related to drones and, taking into account their potential for development, given the significant number of actions that can be carried out, and even more taking into account the use that can be made of them in breach of current legislation, the need arises to incorporate a Global System, at a National level, capable of detecting UAS/RPAS (Drones), which may represent a threat to citizen security, as it constitutes an essential element of the rule of law, as well as to guarantee the privacy and intimacy of individuals, as a fundamental right.

In this regard, the Ministry of the Interior, and more specifically the General Undersecretariat of Information and Communications Systems for Security (SGSICS), under the Secretariat of State for Security (SES), in July 2019, initiated PHASE 0 or Pilot Phase of the so-called "Global System against drones" (SIGLO-CD).

Currently, the SIGLO-CD System has 6 detector antennas and 7 jammers. All of them are controlled integrally from 11 headquarters located in the facilities of the Management Centres included in this information system.

After its initial implementation, during the second half of 2019, the objectives pursued for the SIGLO-CD Network/System are as follows:

• Phase I.- The aim is to complete and improve the functionality and equipment of the sites that were initially implemented, and
• Phase II.- Continue with the extension of the Network/System, throughout the three-year period: 2022-2024, until total anti-drone coverage of the most representative buildings and facilities in the national territory is achieved. In other words, to achieve the provision and implementation, in an integrated manner, of anti-drone systems that provide the necessary anti-drone security to the vast majority of centres and facilities managed by the Central State Administration that, at any time, could be vulnerable to a potential threat of drone attacks.

During the three-year period 2022-2024, we are confident that we will manage to implement artificial intelligence and Machine Learning techniques for the management of drone fleets and for the analysis of significant information on drone flights detected by the SIGLO-CD System.

The main objective of this project is to incorporate a global system for the remote detection, identification, tracking and monitoring of unmanned aircraft (drones) in the urban area of Madrid and, where appropriate, the neutralisation of these aircraft when they pose a threat to the buildings that house the highest State institutions.

The technology of the "SIGLO-CD System" allows drone detection, which is very useful for the Security Forces and Corps. This information generated by the detection devices is duly registered and accessible to the different police units. In this way, the processing and analysis work is facilitated, in order to carry out both strategic and operational prospection, and thus facilitate the work of protection for public safety, in terms of prevention and, where appropriate, reaction to this type of security risk.

Thanks to this project, the following benefits are obtained:

• Immediate detection of the vast majority of drones that intend to fly over or access any of the facilities where the main State institutions based in Madrid are located.
• It facilitates the recording of detections and the automatic generation of statistics based on the identification of the usual parameters, which act as filters.
• On the other hand, it also facilitates the identification of pilots and drones suspected of infringing and, if necessary, their immediate inhibition or neutralisation. All of this is carried out on the basis of regulated procedures and automatically recording, in the SIGLO-CD System database, the actions taken by the system operators, with a view to the possible issuing of reports of all kinds.
• Likewise, it allows for an adequate intelligent management of the drone fleets corresponding to the Management Bodies that interact with the SIGLO-CD System, avoiding confusing drones belonging to the Security Forces and Corps with drones presumed to be criminal.
• Finally, the registration and monitoring of the actions of the system's users is contemplated, as well as the roles assigned to the different groups of users. All of this allows for the efficient use of the system.

The expected results after the implementation of this project are:

• Immediate detection of drones considered a threat.
• Recording of detections and analysis of information.
• Intelligent management of the drone fleets of organisations working with the SIGLO-CD system.

With the following expected impact:

• Mitigate the real technological threat.

At the end of 2001, the Ministry of the Interior began the implementation of the Integrated Telecommunications Interception System, providing the operational units of the State Security Forces and Corps (FCSE) with the necessary means for the reception and recording of electronic communications authorised by a court order.

The system provides an interception tool and centralised storage of communications. It allows operational users distributed throughout the national territory to access the system easily and securely.

Since then, the initial system has undergone extensions and modifications to adapt to the emergence of new telecommunications technologies. In addition, it has often been necessary to increase the capabilities of the system due to the growth in the number of targets, to make improvements in some functionalities and to incorporate new ones of great importance for police investigation, as well as to establish the necessary redundancy in this type of critical system.

The Legal Interception of Communications is an essential tool in the fight against terrorism, drug trafficking and organised crime, due to the growing use of new telecommunications services by those involved in the commission of these crimes.

The main objective of SITEL is to respond to court orders for the interception of communications and to provide the FCSE with a state-of-the-art system to support the investigation and prosecution of criminals.

The expected results after the implementation of this project are:

• Comply with the requirements established by the FCSE for compliance with court orders relating to the legal interception of electronic communications and data retention.
• Unify the management of support, maintenance, new acquisitions and technological renewals of the infrastructure that supports the legal interception of electronic communications and data retention.
• To have a flexible framework for expanding capacities according to new operational, regulatory and security requirements.
• Strengthen the control mechanisms of the infrastructure that supports the legal interception of electronic communications and data retention in order to optimise resources and investments.

With the following expected impact:

• Increased capabilities for the fight against terrorism, delinquency and organised crime.
• Strengthening of the system for the detection of criminal groups linked to terrorism and/or organised crime.

The Subdirectorate General of Information and Communications Systems for Security (hereinafter SGSICS) is responsible for providing support, with the technological means at its disposal, to the information systems common to the National Police and the Civil Guard, in the field of the fight against terrorism and organised crime.

To this end, it is essential to have its own personnel with the necessary degree of specialisation and experience to tackle these projects, technologies, project management and knowledge of the regulatory framework.

Due to the lack of SGSICS's own personnel resources that meet these specifications, it is necessary to have specialised consultancy services for the definition and implementation of the systems.

The objective of this action is to obtain specialised services for the performance of consultancy activities, definition of technological solutions, preparation of documentation and monitoring of projects within the scope of the Secretariat of State for Security, and in collaboration with the various competent authorities in the field.

To ensure that this investment is optimal, both in terms of economic use and in terms of technical capabilities, security and performance, it is necessary to have specific consultancy and technical definition services.

These consultancy services should be appointed to specialised companies in the public sector, in order to ensure that the consultancy provided is independent of possible industrial interests and only for the benefit of the public administration.

The expected results of this project are as follows:

• Availability of a set of reports, studies and support documentation for the deployment of new systems in the field of the fight against terrorism and organised crime, the monitoring and control of their implementation, as well as the identification of technological alternatives for these systems.
• Increasing national and European security by having large-scale systems with precise monitoring.

With the following expected impact:

• Improvement in the systematisation and documentation of the different projects and dossiers related to the fight against terrorism and organised crime.

To have the personal capacity to address the challenges identified by the European Commission in the field of large-scale systems for an effective fight against terrorism and organised crime.

Since 2018, SGSICS has been in the process of expanding and modernising its systems and communications infrastructure. This includes servers, storage systems for databases, communications equipment...

All of this has meant that, today, we have systems that are appropriately sized, both in terms of storage capacity and computational performance, as well as a systems and communications infrastructure with a total guarantee of operation and availability.

In addition, we have highly trained and specialised staff to carry out the administration and operation of the infrastructure, which guarantees the quality of the service, providing the levels required for the systems managed.

The main objective of this project is to guarantee the operation of the entire ICT infrastructure in perfect conditions and during continuous hours. To this end, it is essential to carry out maintenance work and update the infrastructure to new versions that provide the correct functioning, availability and security, which in most cases requires an uninterrupted service 365 days a year.

To achieve this objective, the main tasks undertaken are:

• Updating the software versions of the communications security devices.
• Carrying out technical proposals for improvement.
• Configuration and deployment of new versions of the information system.
• Updating of operating system and base software versions.
• Updating of security patches in the systems infrastructure.
• Prevention, protection and auditing of systems.
• 24x7 operation of the systems.

The expected results are:

• To keep the systems and communications infrastructure protected.
• To ensure the perfect functioning of the information systems.
• To guarantee the availability commitments established on an uninterrupted basis.

Since 2008, the European Commission has been stressing the need, as part of the Union's Integrated Border Management Strategy, to make use of ICT to implement "Smart Borders".

This framework establishes the Entry-Exit System (EES) which will electronically record the time and place of entry and exit of third-country nationals admitted for a short stay on the territory of the Member States and calculate the duration of their authorised stay. This will optimise the management of the Schengen area in the interest of a strong protection of the Schengen area.

This project develops the software, hardware and the necessary developments for the implementation of the new national system for the electronic registration of entry and exit of travellers, as well as the management of access refusals, and its connection to the central system of the EES.

The objectives to be addressed by this project are:

• Automation of border control: To reduce border control time and improve the quality of border controls by automatically calculating authorised stays.
• Replacing passport stamping by electronically registering each border crossing inside and outside the Schengen area, calculating the length of stay of each traveller.
• Ensure reliable and remote identification of persons overstaying their authorised duration of stay.
• Enhancing security and the fight against terrorism by allowing law enforcement authorities access to the system.
• Supporting the detection of terrorists, criminals, as well as suspects, perpetrators or victims of crime.

This project is created with the aim of preventing irregular immigration, combating terrorism and organised crime, thus maximising the benefits of existing information systems and optimising integrated border management.

The expected results after the implementation of this project are:

• Registration of entry and exit data and refusal of access of third country nationals crossing the borders of the Member States.
• Elimination of the physical stamping of passports.
• Systematic and reliable identification of persons entering the Schengen area.

With the following expected impact:

• Reducing delays at border controls and improving the quality of border controls.
• Strengthening internal security and effectively combating irregular immigration, organised crime and terrorism.