North Gate House, the new Gibraltar Defence Police (GDP) Headquarters in the Naval Base, was officially opened this morning by the Chief Minister. The restored warehouse will now serve as the force’s new home following its relocation from Rooke as part of the gradual transfer of that site to the Government.

The building has been subject to extensive work and has been “sympathetically restored” in keeping with its age and heritage. It provides a Headquarters for the Gibraltar Defence Police, a Police Station with a fully modernised control room as well as a Headquarters and other facilities for the Joint Provost and Security Unit.

Speaking at the ceremony, Rob Allen, the GDP’s Chief Police Officer, said: “This is a big day for us and represents a number of years of planning.”

He added that in a changing and often dangerous world, the GDP and associated security units would offer protection against such threats.

CPO Allen thanked all contractors and those involved in the project and highlighted some of the challenges the team faced during the move.

The Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, said: “Everything in Gibraltar works on the basis that everybody has to muck in to make it happen and it is great when you see the effect of that.”

The Commander British Forces, Commodore Ian McGhie, said the project had involved input from many different organisations; both in the MOD and from the Government of Gibraltar: “Everybody is represented and it just speaks volumes about how we’re moving forward in a security space in a joined up way across Gibraltar.”

Pictured below: The GDP also showcased its new fleet of hybrid vehicles.

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