The Commissioner of Police has announced three promotions into the RGP’s Senior Leadership Team.

A statement from the RGP follows below:

The promotions follow recommendations by a panel of representatives from the Royal  Gibraltar Police, the Gibraltar Police Authority, HM Government of Gibraltar, and an  external independent member, at the conclusion of a selection process held during the  month of November.  

Promoted to Chief Inspector – Inspector Tanya McLeod  

Tanya McLeod joined the RGP in 2011 after completing her A-levels and served the  early part of her career within the Operations Division’s Neighbourhood Policing and  Response Teams. After transferring to Crime and Protective Services as a detective,  she served within the Safeguarding and Offender Management Teams, completing  training in areas such as specialist interviewing of victims and vulnerable persons, the  specialist child abuse investigation programme, and Senior Investing Officer training.  

She was promoted to Police Sergeant in November 2018 and served as a Crown  Sergeant within a uniformed Response Team until her promotion to Inspector in May  2023. After transferring to the RGP’s Professional Standards unit, she successfully  completed professional standards and counter corruption training.  

At the time of her promotion, Insp McLeod had been performing the role of Detective  Chief Inspector for Crime & Protective Services in an acting capacity.  

Chief Inspector McLeod currently chairs the RGP’s Women in Policing Forum and is  the Vice-Chair of the United Kingdom’s Overseas Territories Women in Policing  Forum. She is also a qualified Public Order Unit Commander as well as an accredited  Hostage and Crisis Negotiator.  

In April of this year, she was awarded the “Inspirational Leadership Award” at the  British Overseas Territories Women in Policing Awards 2025, following a nomination  and selection process overseen by an independent policing coordination committee  supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). 

Promoted to Chief Inspector – Inspector Luis Garcia White 

Luis Garcia White joined the RGP in 2011 following a brief career in the Royal Gibraltar  Regiment. After serving in one of the uniformed Response Teams, he was seconded to  the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and later the Serious Crime Unit as a  detective. In 2015, he served in the newly formed Money Laundering Investigation  Unit, where he remained until his promotion to Sergeant in 2020. 

As a Sergeant, he served within a uniformed Response Team as a Crown Sergeant until  his promotion to Inspector in June 2024, whereupon he returned to the RGP Economic  Crime Unit as Detective Inspector. In addition to his primary roles, he has served as an  Authorised Firearms Officer and Close Protection Officer, also successfully completing  a range of specialist courses in Financial Intelligence, Financial Investigation, and  Confiscations. He holds the ICA specialised certificate in Money Laundering Risk in New Technology and a Professional Diploma in Leadership & Management. CI Garcia  White is also a qualified Senior Investigating Officer and Tactical Firearms Commander.  

In April of this year, he was awarded the “HeForShe Award” at the British Overseas  Territories Women in Policing Awards 2025, following a nomination and selection  process overseen by an independent policing coordination committee supported by  the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). 

Promoted to Chief Inspector – Inspector Phil Ackerley 

Phil joined the Royal Gibraltar Police in February 2018, after serving in South Yorkshire  Police since April 2004. Prior to relocating to Gibraltar, he had formed part of a  uniformed Response Team in Sheffield, progressing to the role of designated response  driver upon completion of his 2-year probationary period. After 5 years in a Response  Team, he transferred to the proactive Road Crime Unit where he successfully  completed a range of specialist driving and vehicle examination courses and  participated in several football policing operations. Upon promotion to the rank of  Sergeant, he transferred to the Neighbourhood Policing Team based in Sheffield,  where he remained until he relocated to Gibraltar.  

After joining the RGP as a Police Constable and completing his initial training and  mandatory probationary period within a uniformed Response Team, he transferred to  the Roads Policing Unit and took the opportunity of sitting and passing his promotion  examination to Sergeant. Upon promotion to Sergeant, he returned to Response Team  policing to perform the roles of Custody Sergeant and Patrolling Sergeant, before being  posted to the role of Sergeant at the Marine Section. In 2022, he successful applied for  a vacancy as Crown Sergeant, returning to lead one of the RGP’s uniformed Response  Teams, successfully passing the Inspector promotion examination and achieving  promotion to Inspector in May 2023. He was then assigned the Inspector portfolio  encompassing Marine Section, Firearms Training and Specialist Police Search.  

In June 2024, he successfully completed the Public Order & Public Safety (Bronze)  Operational Commander course with Greater Manchester Police and returned to the  UK several months later to complete the Events Policing course. Inspector Ackerley  has been one of two Inspectors responsible for the operational management of all  Gibraltar’s major public events in 2024 and 2025. Recent examples of operations  include Lincoln Red Imps UEFA conference league fixtures in October & November,  the UK Carrier Strike Group visit, and the Christmas Festival of the Lights.  

Commenting on the promotions, Commissioner of Police Owain Richards said, “I am  really pleased with the outcome of this latest promotion process and express my thanks  to panel members for their support throughout the entire process, and to the  candidates for their performance, conduct and commitment to serving our community. 

“These latest appointments reflect the professional experience and outstanding  leadership values demonstrated by each of the successful candidates and I am  particularly pleased to welcome the first ever female Chief Inspector in the RGP’s  history”.