Taken
as a whole, the State police power is inherent to its sovereignty and
it is a right and a duty at the same time, that is to say, it is a vehicle
between the State and the citizenship.
At the highest level, the police power is exercised by the Legislative Branch, which analyzes public needs and tries to meet them, and endeavors to provide a peaceful life and general welfare for citizens by means of laws in compliance with the National Constitution.
Under the rule of law and in order to avoid possible excess of power, laws determine the citizens' rights with respect to the State and to the areas of government within the Executive Branch, which performs all functions resulting from acts and guarantees the essential public services to the community.
One of the main tasks of the State is to ensure security and public order. Without them, citizens would not be able to exercise their rights nor perform their activities freely.
Therefore, public security police is one of the particular branches of the State’s police power. Prefectura exerts such authority within its own sphere and through its different divisions: Safety of Navigation Police, Public Security Police (prevention and punishment of infringements and offences), Judicial Police, Marine Environment and Natural Resources Police, Customs Police, Migration and Health Auxiliary Police and Administrative Navigation Police.
All these functions are covered by Prefectura, through its units and special bodies, along with its qualified personnel and appropriate means.