Vulnerability of Gibraltar’s security exposed at the Frontier in broad daylight!

Leo Olivero

The penny may now have finally dropped that security in Gibraltar is not only a complete shambles and a precarious disgrace, it’s much more serious than that. I have repeatedly drawn attention in Panorama to this hugely important issue that affects us all. Including the fact that in my opinion, the main danger regarding general security in and around Gibraltar is precisely from those supposedly, providing the security to the people of Gibraltar in the first place! 

We have published numerous evidential reports on the glaringly poor and potentially dangerous way, current operational security operations are conducted in parts, and not at all, in other areas around the Gibraltar like the Port, Western/Eastern seashores and not just the Land Border Crossing. Where as was witnessed or exposed on Sunday, also has another hugely alarming security hole, large enough for a Spanish state vehicle to drive straight through it totally undetected and at every possible point, where it should have been challenged or detected much sooner, then when it came out viral on social media for the world to witness our pathetic security arrangements, if you can call them that!

On Sunday afternoon a marked official vehicle belonging to Spanish state organisation ‘Proteccion Civil’ that directly come under the Minister of Interior back in Madrid leisurely entered Gibraltar with four uniformed occupants, blue lights fitted on top of the vehicle, the state crest on the car door and bonnet clear for all to see, allowing for every possible clue to identify it as a government run organisational vehicle, that was waved into Gibraltar to do God knows what. If it had crossed into Gibraltar in similar fashion but in a more discreet manner and with criminally planned motives in mind. Anything could have been possible?

The vehicle in question was unchallenged on entry into Gibraltar, was seen patrolling Gibraltar, though at one stage attempting to enter the nature reserve so we are informed.

How Gibraltar Protects the Smallest Border in the World

This serious breach of security first became known when video footage of the vehicle went viral with it parked at Governor’s Street facing against the traffic flow. By this time two RGP uniform officers had arrived on the scene. Viewing the footage the RGP officers also appeared bemused not quite knowing how to handle the situation.

As you would expect the incident caused public outrage and was condemned by hundreds who took to social media to express their concerns about the serious breach in security at the main borderland crossing into Gibraltar.

Such was the public concern that the Chief Minister Fabian Picardo had to intervene to calm and reassure the public, something the police should have done well before the CM decided to post on his twitter account and later repeated in an official Government statement which read:

“The incident today whereby Spanish “Proteccion Civil” officers have not been stopped when driving across our border is more than just concerning. I am asking all relevant bodies to explain to me how on earth this has happened & to ensure it does not happen again. This is frankly not acceptable.  Our systems have failed today and they must not fail again. Someone must take responsibility for this failure.”

22-10-2019 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR