Puertos de Tenerife Harbour Police are backed by a long-standing professional history. Since their early beginnings as “custodians or wardens” to their modern-day status, they have been present at all port activities, and on the front line in emergency situations occurring at these facilities.

The Harbour Police are dependent upon the Operations Department and their members are considered as officers of the port administration authority exercising the powers of Harbour Police included in the Law of State Ports and the Merchant Navy, without detriment to the obligation of always collaborating whenever required to do so with national security forces. Their main duties are as follows:
- Control, inspection and coordination of port services and maritime aids to navigation supplied directly by the port authority or through indirect management.
- Control, inspection and coordination of operations and activities requiring their authorisation and concession.
- Monitoring compliance of the clauses and conditions imposed in the act of granting concessions and authorizations.
- Monitoring and inspection of works, facilities and equipment located in the port area within the scope of their competence.
- Monitoring the compliance of regulations for dangerous goods and for health and safety within port surroundings, in addition to fire-prevention and security systems, without detriment to the competences corresponding to other administrative bodies.
- Monitoring the entry of persons to property, works, port facilities and zones of restricted or closed access in the port service area.
Moreover, the Harbour Police play an essential part in enforcing Puertos de Tenerife Protection Plans.
The Harbour Police are structured as follows:
- Head of Harbour Police: Collaborates on planning Harbour Police Services, organizes and coordinates service provision ensuring compliance with the law within the port service area and facilities.
- Head of Service: When on duty, this person coordinates and organizes the Harbour Police Service.
- Team Leader: When on duty, this person collaborates on organizing the service and team of officers and/or geographical area.
- Harbour Police Officer: Monitors and patrols the service area of the port authority and the maritime and land operations related to port traffic in accordance with the prevailing legislation.
The Harbour Police are manned by 98 officers who are distributed around the ports as follows: Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 65; Santa Cruz de La Palma, 11; Los Cristianos, 11; La Gomera, 7 and La Estaca, 4.

The recruitment process for new officers is undertaken via public announcement, which outlines the requirements for recruitment. The selection process is divided into several tests, which assess the following: aptitude, physical ability and specific knowledge. The profile of a Harbour Police Officer is that of a person who can work in a team, has a keen sense of analysis and self-control, and a heightened awareness of responsibility.