The DGP, integrated in the Secretariat of State for Security, is in charge of organize, direct, coordinate and execute the missions entrusted to the National Police by the provisions in force, in accordance with the guidelines and orders issued by the Minister of the Interior.

The Directorate-General of the Police is headed by the Director-General, an official appointed by the Monarch at the request of the Interior Minister.

The current director-general of the Police is the former SEDEF Francisco Pardo and the DAO is Chief Commissioner José Ángel González Jiménez.

[3] The most relevant change to which the DGP has had to adapt has been to the approval of the Organic Act of Security Forces and Corps of March 13, 1986.

[4] This law was created «responding fundamentally to the mandate of article 104 of the Constitution», according to which an Organic Act should determine the functions, basic principles of action and statutes of the State Security Forces and Corps.

[5] Likewise, the DGP leaves the building of the Royal House of the Post Office and establishes its headquarters in the palace of the number 5 of Miguel Ángel Street.

[11] During this time both agencies maintained their differentiated structure and legal regime, with a different Coordination Office for each body.