Gibraltar Defence Police: Difference between revisions

Gibraltar Defence Police
Gibraltar Defence Police
	Flag of Gibraltar
Common name	Defence Police
Abbreviation	GDP
Agency overview
Formed	2009
Employees	143 (with 100 officers reported as of 2023)
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdiction	GIB
Size	6.8km2
Population	32,194 (2015)
Legal jurisdiction	Gibraltar
Governing body	Ministry of Defence
General nature	Local civilian police;
Operational structure
Headquarters	Northgate House, HM Naval Base, Gibraltar
Sworn members	95
Unsworn members	50
Agency executive	John McVea, Chief of Police;
Facilities
Patrol cars	Yes
Motor patrol boats	2 (15-metre)
Rigid-hulled inflatable boats	2 (Arctic 24)
Police dogs	Yes
Website
	Official Twitter Page

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Latest revision as of 14:19, 24 December 2024

36°08′26″N 5°21′24″W / 36.14048°N 5.356641°W / 36.14048; -5.356641

The Gibraltar Defence Police (GDP) is a civil police force which provides a policing and security service for the Ministry of Defence in Gibraltar. Prior to 17 December 2009 it was known as the Gibraltar Services Police (GSP).^[2]

Overview

The Gibraltar Defence Police is one of three civilian police forces within the UK Ministry of Defence. Officers are sworn under the Police Act of the Laws of Gibraltar. The Chief of Police is currently John McVea. An independent civilian police force which also provides civilian unarmed guards, the Chief of Police is responsible to the Commander, British Forces Gibraltar.

Structure

In 2020, the strength of the force was said to be:^{[citation needed]} one chief of police, one deputy chief of police, two chief inspectors, five inspectors, 14 sergeants, 72 constables, together with civilian support staff and uniformed guards.

As of 2023, the total strength of the force was said to be about 100 officers.^[3]

Headquarters

Since 2016 the GDP has shared a purpose-built headquarters with the British Armed Forces Joint Provost and Security Unit (JPSU) (military police) at HM Naval Base Gibraltar.

Pay and conditions

Pay and conditions of the force are identical to those of the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) in the United Kingdom, of which it is a direct equivalent. The Gibraltar Defence Police Federation represents the interests of police officers up to the rank of chief inspector.

Specialist units

Firearms

There is no specialist firearms unit. Like the MDP, all GDP officers are trained in the use of firearms.

Marine unit

The force has a Marine Unit, founded in 1990, which consists of a sergeant and over 20 constables. It is charged with the seaward defence of Gibraltar's Royal Navy facilities and the warships moored in them, and also assists the Royal Gibraltar Police Marine Section with general security and enforcement patrols of waters surrounding Gibraltar. It operates two motor launches and two rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIBs). The original 10-metre (33 ft) motor launches of 1998 were replaced in 2003 with larger and faster 15-metre (49 ft) launches. One of these was itself replaced with a newer boat in 2012.

In 2021, the Ministry of Defence contracted with Marine Specialised Technology to build 16 new patrol boats for the Ministry of Defence Police and a further two specifically for the Gibraltar Defence Police. The new 15m boats, which are replacing the existing vessels, have a crew of three (plus room for four more passengers), a top speed of 30 knots and are fitted with both ballistic protection and CCTV surveillance systems. Delivery of the vessels was expected to begin in July 2022.^[4]

The RHIBs are Arctic 24 type boats, capable of speeds up to 55 knots (102 km/h; 63 mph).^[5] Since 2011, the police marine unit has shared a headquarters and boathouse with the Gibraltar Squadron of the Royal Navy. The boathouse holds the Navy's five patrol boats and RHIBs, and the police's four patrol boats and RHIBs.^[6]

Dog section

The GDP dog section was formed in 2012, and consists of a team of handlers, led by a sergeant, and six general purpose dogs. The initial six dogs are of the Belgian Shepherd Dog (Malinois) and Dutch Shepherd Dog breeds. The GDP previously relied on service dogs and handlers seconded from United Kingdom police forces, but as part of the GDP Project Euston, which seeks to replace all secondment from UK forces with locally provided Gibraltarian services, the GDP dog section has been established.^[7]

Drugs intelligence

The force seconds officers to the Gibraltar Co-ordinating Centre for Criminal Intelligence and Drugs (GCID).

Ranks

The rank structure of the GDP follows other British police forces, with ranks from chief officer down to constable.

Gibraltar Defence Police ranks and insignia
Rank	Chief of police	Deputy chief of police	Chief inspector	Inspector	Sergeant	Constable
Epaulette insignia

Gallery

A collection of photographs of the GDP:

GDP officer
Gibraltar Defence Police shed at runway crossing
An Arctic 24 Rigid Hulled Inflatable Boat (RHIB) and the police launch 'Sir Evan Gibb', both of the Gibraltar Defence Police Marine Unit are pictured at speed in the Bay of Gibraltar.
The same boats, but with a view from the front
Gibraltar Police 4x4, notice the naval ('RN') number plate - all GDP vehicles carry military number plates
Gibraltar Police Ford police car

References

^ Culatto, John (19 January 2023). "GIBRALTAR DEFENCE POLICE FACE UP TO DETAILED INSPECTION FOR FIRST TIME IN 85-YEAR HISTORY". The Olive Press. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
^ "Gibraltar Chronicle – Gib Defence Police Officially Launched Last Night". Archived from the original on December 18, 2009.
^ Culatto, John (19 January 2023). "GIBRALTAR DEFENCE POLICE FACE UP TO DETAILED INSPECTION FOR FIRST TIME IN 85-YEAR HISTORY". The Olive Press. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
^ "Two new vessels for GDP as part of £36m MoD contract". Gibraltar Chronicle. 17 June 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
^ The boats and their speed capabilities are outlined here.
^ Details on the Royal Navy website.
^ References for breeds and Project Euston may be found on the UK Government website.

External links

GSP Marine Unit

[1] Culatto, John (19 January 2023). "GIBRALTAR DEFENCE POLICE FACE UP TO DETAILED INSPECTION FOR FIRST TIME IN 85-YEAR HISTORY". The Olive Press. Retrieved 6 March 2024.

[relaunch-2] "Gibraltar Chronicle – Gib Defence Police Officially Launched Last Night". Archived from the original on December 18, 2009.

[3] Culatto, John (19 January 2023). "GIBRALTAR DEFENCE POLICE FACE UP TO DETAILED INSPECTION FOR FIRST TIME IN 85-YEAR HISTORY". The Olive Press. Retrieved 6 March 2024.

[4] "Two new vessels for GDP as part of £36m MoD contract". Gibraltar Chronicle. 17 June 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2023.

[5] The boats and their speed capabilities are outlined here.

[6] Details on the Royal Navy website.

[7] References for breeds and Project Euston may be found on the UK Government website.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|UK civil police force in Gibraltar}}
 {{Coord|36.14048|-5.356641|region:GI_type:landmark|display=title}}
 {{Infobox law enforcement agency
@@ Line 6: / Line 7: @@
 | patch             =
 | patchcaption      =
-| logo              = Gibraltar Defence Police Logo.jpg
+| logo              =
 | logocaption       = ''Logo of the GDP''
 | badge             =
@@ Line 20: / Line 21: @@
 | dissolved         =
 | superseding       =
+| employees         = 143 (with 100 officers reported as of 2023)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2023/01/19/gibraltar-defence-police-face-up-to-detailed-inspection-for-first-time-in-85-year-history/ | title=GIBRALTAR DEFENCE POLICE FACE UP TO DETAILED INSPECTION FOR FIRST TIME IN 85-YEAR HISTORY |work=The Olive Press |last=Culatto |first=John |date=19 January 2023 |access-date=6 March 2024}}</ref>
-| employees         = 143
 | volunteers        =
 | budget            =
@@ Line 60: / Line 61: @@
 | minister1name     =
 | minister1pfo      =
-| chief1name        = Rob Allen
+| chief1name        = John McVea
 | chief1position    = Chief of Police
 | parentagency      =
@@ Line 98: / Line 99: @@
 }}
-The '''Gibraltar Defence Police''' ('''GDP''') is a [[civil police]] force which provides a policing and security service for the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] in [[Gibraltar]]. Prior to 17 December 2009 it was known as the '''Gibraltar Services Police''' ('''GSP''').<ref name=relaunch>[http://www.chronicle.gi/headlines_details.php?id=17967 Gibraltar Chronicle – Gib Defence Police Officially Launched Last Night] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091218183856/http://www.chronicle.gi/headlines_details.php?id=17967 |date=2009-12-18 }}</ref>
+The '''Gibraltar Defence Police''' ('''GDP''') is a civil police force which provides a policing and security service for the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] in [[Gibraltar]]. Prior to 17 December 2009 it was known as the '''Gibraltar Services Police''' ('''GSP''').<ref name=relaunch>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chronicle.gi/headlines_details.php?id=17967|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091218183856/http://www.chronicle.gi/headlines_details.php?id=17967|url-status=dead|title=Gibraltar Chronicle – Gib Defence Police Officially Launched Last Night|archivedate=December 18, 2009}}</ref>
 ==Overview==
 [[File:Gibraltar Defence Police car (1).JPG|thumb|GDP Ford patrol car]]
-The Gibraltar Defence Police is one of three civilian police forces within the UK Ministry of Defence. Officers are sworn under the Police Act of the Laws of Gibraltar. The Chief of Police is currently Rob Allen. An independent civilian police force which also provides civilian unarmed guards, the Chief of Police is responsible to the Commander, [[British Forces Gibraltar]].
+The Gibraltar Defence Police is one of three civilian police forces within the UK Ministry of Defence. Officers are sworn under the Police Act of the Laws of Gibraltar. The Chief of Police is currently John McVea. An independent civilian police force which also provides civilian unarmed guards, the Chief of Police is responsible to the Commander, [[British Forces Gibraltar]].
 ===Structure===
-In 2020, the strength of the force was:{{cn|date=September 2021}} one chief of police, one deputy chief of police, two [[chief inspector]]s, five [[inspector]]s, 14 [[sergeant]]s, 72 [[constable]]s, together with civilian support staff and uniformed guards.
+In 2020, the strength of the force was said to be:{{cn|date=September 2021}} one chief of police, one deputy chief of police, two [[chief inspector]]s, five [[inspector]]s, 14 [[sergeant]]s, 72 [[constable]]s, together with civilian support staff and uniformed guards.
+As of 2023, the total strength of the force was said to be about 100 officers.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theolivepress.es/spain-news/2023/01/19/gibraltar-defence-police-face-up-to-detailed-inspection-for-first-time-in-85-year-history/ | title=GIBRALTAR DEFENCE POLICE FACE UP TO DETAILED INSPECTION FOR FIRST TIME IN 85-YEAR HISTORY |work=The Olive Press |last=Culatto |first=John |date=19 January 2023 |access-date=6 March 2024}}</ref>
 ===Headquarters===
 Since 2016 the GDP has shared a purpose-built [[headquarters]] with the [[British Armed Forces]] Joint Provost and Security Unit (JPSU) (military police) at HM Naval Base Gibraltar.
-===Pay and Conditions===
+===Pay and conditions===
 Pay and conditions of the force are identical to those of the [[Ministry of Defence Police]] (MDP) in the [[United Kingdom]], of which it is a direct equivalent. The Gibraltar Defence Police Federation represents the interests of police officers up to the rank of chief inspector.
@@ Line 120: / Line 123: @@
 ===Marine unit===
-The force has a Marine Unit, founded in 1998, which consists of a sergeant and over twenty constables. It is charged with the seaward defence of Gibraltar's [[Royal Navy]] facilities and the [[naval ship|warship]]s moored in them, and also assists the [[Royal Gibraltar Police]] Marine Section with general security and enforcement patrols of waters surrounding Gibraltar. It operates two motor [[Launch (boat)|launch]]es and two [[rigid-hulled inflatable boat]]s (RHIBs). The original 10-metre motor launches of 1998 were replaced in 2003 with larger and faster 15-metre launches. One of these was itself replaced with a newer boat in 2012.<ref>Details of new vessel [http://www.yourgibraltartv.com/ygtv-news/written-news/1311-may-10-new-vessels-for-gibraltar-defence-police here].</ref> The RHIBs are Arctic 24 type boats, capable of speeds up to 55 knots.<ref>The boats and their speed capabilities are outlined [https://www.gov.uk/government/news/gibraltar-defence-police-learn-advanced-power-boat-skills here].</ref> Since 2011 the police marine unit has shared a headquarters and boat house with the [[Gibraltar Squadron]] of the [[Royal Navy]]. The boathouse holds the Navy's 5 patrol boats and RHIBs, and the police's 4 patrol boats and RHIBs.<ref>Details on the [http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2011/August/03/110803-Old-Boathouse-is-new-home-for-Gibraltar-Squadron Royal Navy website].</ref>
+The force has a Marine Unit, founded in 1990, which consists of a sergeant and over 20 constables. It is charged with the seaward defence of Gibraltar's [[Royal Navy]] facilities and the [[naval ship|warship]]s moored in them, and also assists the [[Royal Gibraltar Police]] Marine Section with general security and enforcement patrols of waters surrounding Gibraltar. It operates two motor [[Launch (boat)|launch]]es and two [[rigid-hulled inflatable boat]]s (RHIBs). The original {{convert|10|m|adj=on}} motor launches of 1998 were replaced in 2003 with larger and faster {{convert|15|m|adj=on}} launches. One of these was itself replaced with a newer boat in 2012.
+In 2021, the Ministry of Defence contracted with Marine Specialised Technology to build 16 new patrol boats for the [[Ministry of Defence Police]] and a further two specifically for the Gibraltar Defence Police. The new 15m boats, which are replacing the existing vessels, have a crew of three (plus room for four more passengers), a top speed of 30 knots and are fitted with both ballistic protection and CCTV surveillance systems. Delivery of the vessels was expected to begin in July 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Two new vessels for GDP as part of £36m MoD contract |url=https://www.chronicle.gi/two-new-vessels-for-gdp-as-part-of-36m-mod-contract/ |access-date=14 September 2023 |website=Gibraltar Chronicle |date=17 June 2021}}</ref>
+The RHIBs are Arctic 24 type boats, capable of speeds up to {{convert|55|knot}}.<ref>The boats and their speed capabilities are outlined [https://www.gov.uk/government/news/gibraltar-defence-police-learn-advanced-power-boat-skills here].</ref> Since 2011, the police marine unit has shared a headquarters and boathouse with the [[Gibraltar Squadron]] of the [[Royal Navy]]. The boathouse holds the Navy's five patrol boats and RHIBs, and the police's four patrol boats and RHIBs.<ref>Details on the [http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/News-and-Events/Latest-News/2011/August/03/110803-Old-Boathouse-is-new-home-for-Gibraltar-Squadron Royal Navy website].</ref>
 ===Dog section===
@@ Line 131: / Line 138: @@
 The rank structure of the GDP follows other British police forces, with ranks from chief officer down to constable.
-{| class="wikitable"
+{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
+!colspan=7|Gibraltar Defence Police ranks and insignia
-|'''Chief of police'''
-|[[File:Chief Constable.svg|Chief Constable|center|60px]]
 |-
+!Rank
-|'''Deputy chief of police'''
+|[[Chief Constable|Chief of police]]
-| ''unavailable''
+|[[Deputy Chief Constable|Deputy chief of police]]
-|-
-|'''Chief inspector'''
+|[[Chief inspector#United Kingdom|Chief inspector]]
+|[[Inspector#United Kingdom|Inspector]]
-|[[File:CInsp.svg|CInsp|center|60px]]
+|[[Sergeant#United Kingdom|Sergeant]]
-|-
+|[[Constable#United Kingdom|Constable]]
-|'''Inspector'''
-|[[File:Insp.svg|Insp|center|60px]]
-|-
-|'''Sergeant'''
-|[[File:PS Epaulette.svg|PS Epaulette|center|60px]]
-|-
-|'''Police constable'''
-|[[File:UK police constable epaulette, 2016.svg|PC Epaulette|center|60px]]
 |-
+!Epaulette insignia
+|[[File:Chief Constable.svg|50px|link=Chief Constable]]
+|[[File:Deputy Chief Constable.svg|78x78px]]
+|[[File:CInsp.svg|50px|link=Chief inspector#United Kingdom]]
+|[[File:Insp.svg|50px|link=Inspector#United Kingdom]]
+|[[File:PS Epaulette.svg|50px|link=Sergeant#United Kingdom]]
+|[[File:UK police constable epaulette, 2016.svg|50px|link=Constable#United Kingdom]]
 |}
-===Numbers of officers by rank===
-The list below denotes how many GDP officers there are by rank/position.
-* [[Chief of police]] (1)
-* Deputy Chief of Police (1)
-* [[Chief inspector]] (2)
-* [[Inspector]] (5)
-* [[Sergeant]] (14)
-* [[Constable]] (72)
-* Police staff (16)
 ==Gallery==
@@ Line 171: / Line 166: @@
 File:Boats of the Gibraltar Defence Police Marine Unit MOD 45157642.jpg|The same boats, but with a view from the front
 File:Gibraltar Police Car 4 x 4.jpg|Gibraltar Police 4x4, notice the naval ('RN') number plate - all GDP vehicles carry military number plates
-File:Gibraltar Police car 3.jpg|Gibraltar Police [[Ford]] police car
+File:Gibraltar Police car 3.jpg|Gibraltar Police [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] police car
 </gallery>
 ==See also==
 *[[Royal Gibraltar Police]]
-*[[Her Majesty's Customs (Gibraltar)]]
+*[[His Majesty's Customs (Gibraltar)]]
 *[[Border and Coastguard Agency (Gibraltar)]]
 *[[Law of Gibraltar]]
 *[[British Overseas Territories]]
-*[[List of law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom, Crown dependencies and British Overseas Territories]]
+*[[List of law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom, Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories]]
 ==References==

v t e Police forces of the Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories
Crown Dependencies	Guernsey Police Isle of Man Constabulary Jersey Honorary Police States of Jersey Police
British Overseas Territories	Anguilla Bermuda Airport Police Police British Indian Ocean Territory British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Falkland Islands Gibraltar RGP (civilian police) GDP (defence police) Borders & Coastguard Montserrat Pitcairn Islands Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Sovereign Base Areas Customs and Immigration Police Turks and Caicos