MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Emergency protocol” to avoid Guardia Civil and Gibraltar police future clashes

The latest incident in Gibraltar waters echoed in Madrid and London

The British Government will discuss with Spain ways of ensuring coordination and avoiding volatile confrontations between law enforcement agencies at sea following the hostile stand-off this week in which Guardia Civil officers physically prevented Gibraltar policemen from arresting a suspected smuggler.

“We are very concerned by [Tuesday’s] incident” a spokesman for the Foreign & Commonwealth Office said. “We need to ensure effective policing”.

“We are studying reports and will be discussing with Spain with a view to ensuring that our police work together against lawbreakers.”

The talks between Britain and Spain are expected to take place imminently, reflecting the sense of urgency arising from the incident. One of the first things that officials will likely discuss is a practical, emergency protocol designed to defuse high-tension situations, irrespective of where they occur.

But implementing an effective protocol may be difficult given the current degree of antipathy between the Royal Gibraltar Police and the Guardia Civil.

The RGP said the Spanish officers had shown physical aggression and had “manhandled” the Gibraltarian crew before removing the suspected smuggler from British waters.

Chief Minister Peter Caruana said the incident was “wholly unacceptable” adding “it calls into question the viability of cooperation between the Royal Gibraltar Police and the Guardia Civil and the conclusion of agreements in this area in the Trilateral Forum”. (Gibraltar Chronicle).