The policing plan for 2024/5 has “flexibility” at its core to enable the Royal Gibraltar Police to adapt to changing demands.
The document, which was laid in Parliament recently, sets out the RGP’s priorities for the years ahead.
“The Policing Plan is designed to provide the Royal Gibraltar Police the maximum flexibility possible and the core policing priorities should remain the same over the next three years,” wrote then GPA chairman Dr Joseph Britto in a foreword to the report.
“Yearly iterations over the next three years will incorporate any policing priorities that may arise as a result of, for example, the possible outcomes of the treaty negotiations as well as the developing geo-political turmoil and conflict, all ongoing at the time of writing.”
The plan also takes on board feedback from the public gathered through the GPA annual survey, including the desire for more “visible” policing.
The plan, which will be kept under review, sets out a strategic outlook for the next three years and is not expected to change in that period unless there are significant changes that force the RGP to re-adjust its focus.
“We expect that policing Gibraltar in 2024/25 will be no different to other years, but we know it will be another challenging year for us all, and the organisation has worked hard to build upon our resilience and professionalise our people more,” said Commissioner Richard Ullger in a foreword to the plan.
The RGP will prioritise training in line with the College of Policing and with an eye on the needs of the RGP.
“Training our people is financially very expensive but we need to have a professional body of people to deliver excellence in policing,” the Commissioner said.
“Our commanders continue to undergo both leadership training and core strategic training in public order and firearms policing.”
“These are specialised policing areas that require expertise, professionalism and knowledge.”
And while the RGP is conscious that visible policing is a key demand from the community, Mr Ullger said this must be balanced against “unseen policing” priorities.
Mr Ullger also wrote that he was conscious "that the public are keen to see more officers on our streets and we are doing our utmost to be visible and police with our intelligence-led ethos.”
“We are also better at understanding our demands, but we are also committed to protecting our vulnerable and providing the best service to victims of crimes.”
“To achieve this, there is a lot of unseen policing and it is imperative that I reiterate to you that it is more important for us to mitigate risks with real purpose and outcomes.”
“Financial crime is also on the rise and with a digital footprint being ever present in most crimes, I am committed to providing resources to these growing trends.”
“Equally, we will be working closely with partners to protect Gibraltar and prevent any potential terrorist activity, and we will do this by pursuing those intending on inflicting harm, but also prepare for any incident that may have an impact on us.”
Mr Ullger said the RGP had also continued to prepare for any potential treaty on Gibraltar’s post-Brexit relations with Spain and the wider EU.
“Whatever the outcome is, there will be challenges and risks to mitigate, but with good planning and adequate preparations we are ready to support His Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar,” he said.
The RGP, as the principal law enforcement agency in Gibraltar, will continue to lead on “matters of physical and protective security” in Gibraltar, maintaining and enhancing existing partnerships with key stakeholders and developing new relationships locally, regionally and internationally.
As in previous years, the RGP’s top priority is ensuring “a safer Gibraltar” by building partnerships to “monitor and identify current and emerging security threats, whilst reinforcing community engagement”.
A key element in achieving this will be continuing to play a pivotal role in the Gibraltar Contingency Council, which draws together law enforcement, military and contingency bodies in Gibraltar to develop Gibraltar’s capacity and capabilities while constantly assessing risks and mitigating them through operational activity.
Alongside policing public and military events, the strategy includes building on partnerships with the UK counter terrorism policing and intelligence communities, as well as local, regional and international partners in order to improve “collaborative intelligence sharing”.
The RGP will also work “…with key strategic partners, including the general public, to strengthen our borders and secure critical national infrastructure and most importantly to protect people from harm.”
The RGP will also continue to build community partnerships to tackle concerns relating to anti-social behaviour, road safety and cybercrime.
Part of that will include a “zero tolerance stance” on anti-social behaviour and providing a visible policing presence “in key areas and at key times”.
A zero-tolerance approach will also be adopted to proactively target people who cause danger to themselves and others on Gibraltar’s roads, particularly speeding, dangerous driving and drink driving.
There will also be a focus on safeguarding to identify and support the most vulnerable in society, including tackling domestic abuse and violence against women and girls through close work with partner agencies.
The RGP will also focus efforts on drugs crime, which continues to cause “grave concern” in the community.
It will show “determination in detecting and deterring” those involved in drugs supply and misuse, while also helping users to find support to break the cycle.
Part of that will involve education and awareness campaigns alongside enforcement, including using legislation to target the proceeds of drugs crime.
Separately, the RGP will continue to strengthen its capabilities to “disrupt, prevent and robustly investigate” financial crime including cybercrime.
“The RGP will use all powers available to it to identify and confiscate assets derived from crime,” the policing plan said.
During the financial year 2023/4, the RGP received 4,252 crime reports, including 120 reports of burglary of which 67% were in commercial premises.
A total of 11,768 calls were received by the RGP’s control room, of which 66% required emergency or priority response.
During the year under review, the most frequently arrested age group was people in the mid-30s.
The RGP issued 1547 fixed traffic penalty notices in 2023/4, down from 1939 in the preceding year, and arrested 132 people for dink driving offences, up from 83 in 2022/3.