Jul 15 - EuroCOP Calls For “Immediate De-Escalation” In Political Tensions At Sea
The European Confederation of Police (EuroCOP) has called for an immediate de-escalation in the political tensions that are playing out on the seas near Gibraltar.
The organization says that, in recent days, vessels belonging to the Royal Gibraltar Police and the Guardia Civil have been “facing off against each other and have come perilously close to colliding.”
EuroCOP says that the lives of police officers from both Gibraltar and Spain are at risk as a consequence addin that this is not acceptable. The organization also insists that Police officers from both Gibraltar and Spain “should be left to get on with their jobs and not be expected to be pawns in a dispute that extends far beyond their areas of responsibility.”
A statement continued: “Those who use the seas around Gibraltar deserve to have the police services concentrating on ensuring the safety of those who use the waters, as well as the prevention and detection of crime. The current political impasse is diverting police resources on both sides away from what they should be doing and ultimately it is the public who suffer.
“Police officers should not be expected to risk their lives for political gain. It is one thing for police officers to risk their lives to help save others but their lives should not be put in danger as a consequence of a political impasse. We call for an immediate de-escalation for the protection of police officers and the public alike.
“We believe that irrespective of the long running territorial dispute it should be possible to progress a long term workable policing solution built on cooperation that serves the citizens of Gibraltar and Spain equally well.”
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