The Gibraltar Defence Police (GDP) is a civil police force which provides a policing and security service for the Ministry of Defence in

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. Prior to 17 December 2009 it was known as the Gibraltar Services Police (GSP).Gibraltar Chronicle – Gib Defence Police Officially Launched Last Night

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 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 British Forces Gibraltar is the British Armed Forces stationed in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. Gibraltar is used primarily as a training area, thanks to its good climate and rocky terrain, and as a stopover for aircraft and ship ...

Structure

In 2020, the strength of the force was: one chief of police, one deputy chief of police, two

chief inspector Chief inspector (Ch Insp) is a rank used in police forces which follow the British model. In countries outside Britain, it is sometimes referred to as chief inspector of police (CIP). Usage by country Australia The rank of chief inspector is us ...

s, five inspectors, 14 sergeants, 72 constables, together with civilian support staff and uniformed guards.

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 The Ministry of Defence Police (MDP) is a civilian special police force which is part of the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence. The MDP's primary responsibilities are to provide armed security and counter terrorism services to designated hig ...

(MDP) in the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

, 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 1998, which consists of a sergeant and over twenty constables. It is charged with the seaward defence of Gibraltar's

Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...

facilities and the

warship A warship or combatant ship is a naval ship that is built and primarily intended for naval warfare. Usually they belong to the armed forces of a state. As well as being armed, warships are designed to withstand damage and are usually faster ...

s moored in them, and also assists the

Royal Gibraltar Police The Royal Gibraltar Police (RGP) is, along with His Majesty's Customs (Gibraltar), the principal civilian law enforcement agency in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. It is the oldest police force in the Commonwealth of Nations outside ...

Marine Section with general security and enforcement patrols of waters surrounding Gibraltar. It operates two motor launches and two

rigid-hulled inflatable boat A rigid inflatable boat (RIB), also rigid-hull inflatable boat or rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB), is a lightweight but high-performance and high-capacity boat constructed with a rigid hull bottom joined to side-forming air tubes that are i ...

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. The RHIBs are Arctic 24 type boats, capable of speeds up to 55 knots. Since 2011 the police marine unit has shared a headquarters and boat house with the

Gibraltar Squadron The Gibraltar Squadron is a unit of the British Royal Navy. It is the only seagoing Royal Naval unit based in Gibraltar, attached to British Forces Gibraltar. It currently includes two ''Cutlass''-class fast patrol boats with a maximum speed of ...

of the

. The boathouse holds the Navy's 5 patrol boats and RHIBs, and the police's 4 patrol boats and RHIBs.

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) The Belgian Shepherd (also known as the Belgian Sheepdog, Belgian Malinois, or the Chien de Berger Belge) is a breed of medium-sized herding dog from Belgium. While predominantly considered a single breed, it is bred in four distinct variet ...

and

Dutch Shepherd Dog The Dutch Shepherd is a herding dog of Dutch origin. They were used by shepherds and farmers who needed a versatile dog, with few demands, and a dog that was able to adapt to a harsh and meager existence. History Origins of the Northern Eu ...

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.References for breeds and Project Euston may be found on th
UK Government website

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.

Gallery

A collection of photographs of the GDP: File:GB Airways aircraft landing at Gibraltar Airport.jpg, GDP officer File:Gibraltar Defence Police shed at runway crossing.JPG, Gibraltar Defence Police shed at runway crossing File:Boats of the Gibraltar Defence Police Marine Unit MOD 45157643.jpg, 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. 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 Ford commonly refers to: * Ford Motor Company, an automobile manufacturer founded by Henry Ford * Ford (crossing), a shallow crossing on a river Ford may also refer to: Ford Motor Company * Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company * Ford F ...

police car

References

External links

GSP Marine Unit
{{Gibraltar topics

Ministry of Defence Police Law enforcement agencies of Gibraltar 2000s establishments in Gibraltar 2009 establishments in British Overseas Territories Civilian police forces of defense ministries