Deaths at Sea inquest hears from RGP marine instructor

An instructor for the RGP Marine section has told the court that police training emphasized safety, and that their role in Gibraltar waters focused more on observing than intervening when engaged in pursuits.

PC Robert McKnight was giving evidence on day seven of an inquest into the deaths of Mustafa Dris Mohamed and Mohamed Abdeslam Ahmed who died following a collision between an RGP vessel and a RHIB in March 2020

PC McKnight joined the RGP Marine section in 2011, qualifying as an instructor in 2016. He told the court that police training provides coxswains with skills that can be applied in high speed pursuits, but said that more than 70% of their experience is learnt on the job.  He explained to jurors that recreating the conditions of a real high speed pursuit would be highly dangerous for trainees.  He said it was the RGP’s role to dissuade criminals from using our waters.

Safety was prioritized above all else with regard to pursuits, with PC McKnight saying more than 99% of RGP chases at sea resulted in the suspects getting away,“Not even two tonnes of cannabis is worth someone’s life.

Whether your own, those you’re chasing or an innocent bystander.”

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In the early hours of March 8th, an RGP vessel engaged in pursuit of a Spanish RHIB, resulting in a collision which killed two men aboard the RHIB.

The RGP officers towed the RHIB back to Gibraltar and have maintained in evidence that they believed they were in Gibraltar waters at all times.

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Today, PC McKnight told the court that a coxswain should be able to tell when they’re in Gibraltar waters. The RGPinstructor confirmed officers were all informed that a vessel’s AIS, a navigation and tracking device, was to be switched on at all times, but he said it was very possible for a coxswain to become engrossed in a chase, and that he then relies on his crew to keep him aware of his surroundings.

 PC McKnight repeated concerns expressed by Officer One, the RGP coxswain the night of the collision, in his testimony.

He said the chartplotter, another navigation device installed on the police boat, gave off a glare and was in the coxswain’s line of sight, he said he had turned it off himself on the first few patrols on that vessel.

PC McKnight also questioned the evidence of Captain Richard Meikle - a marine collision expert who had compiled a report on the incident.

In his evidence, Mr Meikle said the RGP vessel appeared to be navigating in unsafe proximity to the RHIB.

He was also  shown footage of a separate RGP chase involving PC McKnight. Mr Meikle had said in his view, elements of it appeared unsafe.

PC McKnight claimed that if you were to show any RGP, GDP or Guardia Civil officers that footage footage, they’d say this was one of the tamest pursuits they’ve seen.  He said he thought Mr Meikle was totally wrong in his assessment

The marine instructor sought to highlight the severe difficulties and pressure faced by officers during pursuits at sea. He said any officer who becomes a coxswain has proven himself to be a coxswain, but they are faced with situations where those they are chasing are not trained and are moving erratically and unpredictably, demanding split second decisions of anyone in pursuit.