The Commissioner of Police is disappointed with the decision by the Gibraltar Police Federation to unilaterally publish an internal staff survey without any consultation, or input, from senior management. The RG Police respects the right of the GPF to conduct such exercises, and the RG Police is proud of its record of transparency and openness. The RG Police, however, has no choice but to reply publically to the survey and note our conclusion that the findings of the report give a distorted, incomplete and wholly unbalanced picture of the reality of our organisation.

In the past five years, we have been working in close cooperation with the Gibraltar Government across a whole range of issues to tackle long-standing grievances caused by increased policing challenges. These difficulties are made more acute by historical under-investment in the force, and the need to carry out adjustments necessary to address the RG Police’s changing, and increasingly demanding, work streams.

We are satisfied that the Gibraltar Government has taken note of our representations regarding the burdens we are facing due to limited resources being unremittingly stretched, and are pleased to report that there have been significant advances in this period.

The incumbent administration’s support for the RG Police has been reflected in substantial investment in human, material resources and real estate, including assets for the maritime section, together with much needed cash injections into vital equipment and technology. Moreover, the RG Police has seen an increase in 15 more sworn in police officers in the last 7 years.

The GPF has been regularly briefed about our meaningful discussions with the Gibraltar Government and the verifiable progress that has been achieved. In view of this, it is regrettable that they should have unilaterally published the survey without discussing the findings with senior management and giving us an opportunity to establish clear guidelines of action to jointly address the concerns that may have been identified.

Although outstanding issues remain, and we look forward to facing them in a spirit of mutual trust with the GPF, it is unfair to undermine all the hard work that has been done to date by creating a negative impression. We have a cordial relationship with the GPF and hold regular meetings with them, to review outstanding issues of mutual interest in a constructive atmosphere.

The RG Police force, its senior ranks and officers are committed to the delivery of excellent service to the public, and we call on the GPF to assist us in ensuring that we accomplish that critical objective in the most positive manner.