May 11 - RGP Report On Guardia Civil Incident
The RGP has just issued the following report following the news of an incident in the Bay involving the Guardia Civil:
Shortly before 1pm this afternoon a call for assistance was received by the RGP’s Marine Section. The caller was one of two local fishermen aboard a locally registered vessel, which, at the time, was approximately 1 mile west of the North Mole and within British Gibraltar Territorial Waters. The caller advised the RGP that the vessel had been boarded by a Guardia Civil officer whilst within BGTW.
On arrival at the location, and seeing that a Guardia Civil officer was aboard the local boat, an RGP officer proceeded to board the vessel. He sustained an injury as the fishing vessel was navigated in an attempt to prevent his boarding. Control of the fishing vessel was then taken by RGP officers who returned to port together with the two local men. An investigation into the matter has disclosed no offences by the two local men. The Guardia Civil officers remained at the location of the incident.
The injured officer has received treatment for his injury at St Bernard’s Hospital and has since been released. He has now returned to his duties.
The Commissioner and Senior Management Team are grateful to the Marine Section duty crew for their response to this incident and to the entire Marine Section for their professionalism and dedication to duty, over the last couple of years, in what has been a difficult and trying period.
The RGP would like to reassure the community that it will work to allow all law abiding citizens to freely enjoy the use of British Gibraltar Territorial Waters.
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