This unusual and unprompted public statement by the Royal Gibraltar Police was to confirm reports in the Spanish media concerning ‘operational policing activities’ this is not common, as the RGP barely comments on any report from the local press regarding operational matters. Something Panorama knows to well after the many press reports by the local media, particularly recent high profile reports concerning RGP enforcement polices in BGTW!

The RGP press release made reference and highlighted once again, the ‘growing mutual co-operation’ (between local and Spanish agencies) the police in the statement endeavouring to make the point that organised criminality will be pursued cross border.

The latter point on cross border collaboration was picked up by members of the public especially those on social media. The public in fact believe, this could also obviously mean enforcement and operational interventions in both directions. In the latter respect, concerns have been raised, on let’s say, ‘Guardia Civil Officers crossing the border to search premises and peoples homes in Gibraltar with the RGP in a set crime situation’.

I do hope the RGP clarify the latter point, this time without continued prompting from the press on this side of the border!

One can take from this latest RGP statement about police cross border collaboration, that either there was a local criminal element involved in the operation, although no locals were reported as having been involved or detained, or that the RGP have embarked on an undeclared policy of cross border enforcement collaboration with their Spanish counterparts and all in the sprit of cooperation, and not one with a local policing requirement, another point picked up by the untrained public!

Cross border police drug operations have been going on for 40/50 years, I personally took part in many and even spent days on end in the Spanish mainland, but only when their was a local criminal involvement or connection, and not, as it appears today, for the sake of cooperation. Although as I have already suggested the RGP may want to clear that point just as quickly they proudly did it seems, when they confirmed reports in the Spanish press!

24-05-19 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR