Social relations and state of well-being of the National Civil Police of El Salvador agents. Protective factors and risk factors

Abstract

In any society, police forces play a key role in maintaining peace and security. In the case of El Salvador, the National Civil Police (PNC) is the primary state agency responsible for serving and protecting the Salvadoran population, maintaining order and security from a human rights perspective. This task becomes more complex in a country where the homicide rate has reached high levels in recent decade.2015 was considered asone of the most violent years globally, recording a rate of 103 victims of violent acts per 100,000 inhabitants. In response to violence affecting the country, various administrations have implemented different security policies, with the PNC being the entity responsible for their execution.
This article aims to look beyond the National Civil Police as a state corporation in charge of security, focusing instead on the individuals who comprise it, primarily police officers. The study seeks to investigate the various protective factors and risk factors affecting the well-being of officers within the different social relationships they engage in, including family relationships, work relationships, and interactions with the public. This is set within a social context marked by violence, in which they have been given a prominent role in addressing this issue.