RGP officers have completed a two-week detective supervisory course delivered by UK policing trainers, focused on investigation management, leadership and legal frameworks.

A statement from the RGP follows below:

18 RGP officers have successfully completed a 2-week detective supervisory course  delivered by specialist trainers from UK policing. 

The course develops participants' competence in supervisory level investigation  management, with a focus on critical decision-making, legal compliance, leadership  and the practical application of investigative doctrine. On completion, participants are  equipped to assume responsibility for the supervision and direction of serious and  complex criminal investigations, to uphold the highest standards of professional  practice and ethical conduct. 

Participating officers were introduced to the foundational principles of detective  supervision, including the role of the Detective Sergeant, Intrusive Supervision, and  the Code of Ethics. The training was complemented by sessions on managing risk,  the building blocks of investigation, fast-track actions, team dynamics, and leadership  styles. The legislative framework governing covert investigative techniques was also  covered, alongside policy writing, decision-making and the role of the Senior  Investigating Officer. Practical exercises and case studies allowed participants to  apply their learning in realistic investigative settings, with a course assessment used  to measure progress against learning objectives. 

Throughout their course, participants broadened their knowledge across a range of  specialist investigative disciplines, with sessions delivered by UK subject matter  experts covering Scene Management and Forensics, the Intelligence Function,  Financial Investigation, Domestic Abuse and Stalking, and Violence Against Women  and Girls. Further input addressed the role of the Investigative Adviser, Suspect  Interviewing and Digital Forensics, reflecting the growing importance of digital material  in modern criminal investigations. The course culminated in a Hydra Immersive  Decision-Making Exercise, involving a pressure tested simulation requiring  participants to make and justify critical investigative decisions in real time, followed by  a final practical scenario and formal assessment.

Detective Superintendent Sean Perera, said, "This training represents a vital step in  the continued professional development of our detectives, ensuring that those  operating at a supervisory level have the skills, knowledge and confidence to lead  complex criminal investigations to the highest standard. 

“The breadth of the programme, from foundational investigative doctrine through to  specialist disciplines and immersive decision-making exercises, reflects our  commitment to build a detective function that is both capable and ethical.  

We are proud of the commitment shown by all participants throughout the two weeks,  and we’re confident that the skills gained will have a direct and positive impact on the  quality of investigations conducted Gibraltar."