a secure and prosperous future

Our Policy

Our sound policies have brought both economic stability and an improved quality of life to all Gibraltarians.

Gibraltar is safer, politically, internationally, socially and economically than ever before. The GSD will continue to meet the challenges that have afforded us the success that we enjoy today.

Law & Order, Justice & Civil Protection

Few other rights can be enjoyed fully if our law and order scenario does not prevent others from spoiling our peace of mind and quality of life, and provides security and freedom from the consequences of crime. Since 1996 the GSD has been able to restore Gibraltar’s traditional law and order, and to eliminate the very many negative threats and consequences that arose between 1988 and 1996 from the fast launch activity.

We have returned the status, empowerment and governmental support to the RGP, and significantly increased its manpower, resources and training. And all within a new Constitutional framework in which the RGP is more accountable and responsive to the general public, both, directly and through the new Police Authority through which the general public has an active and substantial role in fashioning annual policing plans.

 

During the last 15 years Gibraltar has very substantially upgraded its capacity to deal with a wide range of security and civil contingency events, including:

  • • Developing a wide range of disaster response plans;

  • • Establishing a Civil Contingencies Committee and a Civil Contingencies Co ordinator to plan and coordinate responses to emergency events;

  • • Dealing effectively and quickly with medical epidemics (e.g. bird flu and swine flu) ;

  • • Dealing with large scale shipping accidents (e.g. Fedra and New Flame);

  • • Implementation of Modern standards of Aviation and Airport Security;

  • • Upgraded Criminal intelligence gathering, use and sharing;

  • • Upgraded emergency Ambulance capability;

  • • Improved training in our Fire Brigade;

There have been many other initiatives to enhance this area of policy:

  • • A new, modern prison

  • • A new Courts buildings and Service

  • • An overhaul of our crimes and criminal procedures legislation

  • • Establishment of alcohol and drugs rehabilitation centres

  • • Implementation of Drugs Strategies

  • • Introduction of anti social behaviour legislation

  • • Use of CCTV cameras

In the area of Justice, great progress has been made following the establishment of a Justice Ministry consequent on the New Constitution. All aspects have been reviewed and reformed including Court facilities, prison facilities, the management of our courts system, our criminal laws and procedures, our family laws, child protection laws and others with a view to bringing Gibraltar closer to the modern European norm in these important areas.

The GSD’s hard work and commitment to this policy area has produced excellent results with wholesale and important reform well under way, and continuing:

  • • A new, modern prison

  • • New, modern court houses (while preserving their heritage value)

  • • Establishment of single Combined Courts Service under new management system

  • • Establishment of Judicial Service Commission to administer the Judiciary

  • • Wide ranging public consultation on law reforms

  • • Children’s Act to provide modern child protection legislation

  • • Family Law Reforms and appointment of additional judge for family work

  • • Family Law and Parenting booklet distributed to households

  • • Modernisation of crimes legislation

  • • Modernisation and overhaul of criminal procedures legislation

  • • Modernisation of Prisons legislation

  • • 16 extra prison officers