RGP annual budget increases by 30% to £22.9 million to meet new challenges

The annual budget for the Royal Gibraltar Police has increased by 30% over the previous year to £22.9 million.

The Chair of the Police Authority revealed the figure in his foreword to this year’s Policing Plan. He says the increase was necessary to secure additional resources to tackle post-treaty law enforcement challenges.

Peter Montegriffo said there had been tangible improvement across many fronts of the RGP.

The 2026/2027 policing plan is the third and final one in the current three-year cycle.

In his foreword, GPA Chair Peter Montegriffo said there had been extraordinary developments and progress over the past year.

As well as a 30% increase in the budget to £22.9 million to meet the cost of additional law enforcement in a post-treaty world, greater capital expenditure has become available to ensure the RGP has the required physical assets to deal with EU treaty obligations.

While acknowledging the inevitable challenges that may arise, he said new CCTV and facial recognition technology will provide reassurance that safety and well-being are maintained.

Mr Montegriffo says the implementation of the treaty and the period afterwards have been exceptionally well policed, indicating very positive management of the RGP’s new environment.

Work continues on police governance reform and improving the framework for holding the RGP to account. The Steering Committee has worked up detailed proposals which are expected to emerge in the coming months.

He says these should represent significant transformation, improvement and modernisation of policing governance, including matters arising from the McGrail Inquiry recommendations.

Next year’s autumn survey will reflect the recalibration of policing priorities as the RGP moves into a new planning cycle.  However, he said the priority was to keep Gibraltar safe with a renewed focus on potentially heightedvulnerabilities arising from organised crime, drug trafficking and terrorism.

Nevertheless, he said there had been significant changes within the RGP, with tangible improvements across many fronts, and he praised the invigorated leadership of the Commissioner and Command Team.

For his part, Owain Richards says the plan builds on the strong foundations established following his appointment in July last year. In this final year of the current three-year planning cycle, he said the RGP has placed greater emphasis on measuring the impact of its work and on accountability.

As Gibraltar evolves, so too do the challenges they face, including the Treaty, changing patterns of criminality and emerging technologies. Yet they remain committed to reducing high-harm crime and protecting the most vulnerable in society.

Commissioner Richards said the plan is continue to build a modern, capable and resilient police force that’s ready to meet the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

The number one priority in the policing plan is a safer Gibraltar, followed by working for the community, including tackling areas raised by the public such as anti-social behaviour and careless driving. The next priority is safeguarding the vulnerable, followed by reducing the harm caused by drugs, reducing financial crime, and transforming and developing the police service.

Unlike previous policing plans, no crime statistics were provided.

In answer to GBC questions, Mr Montegriffo said: "We have decided this year not to include crime statistics in the Annual Policing Plan because it is a forward looking (rather than look back) document. The statistical data for the end of the year will be presented in the Annual Report which looks at the previous policing year. We are trying with the RGP to streamline the communications to the public."

"We will begin to consider the next 3 year period beyond 2027 in the new, and hopefully more settled, post-EU Treaty environment.  I believe this will be the most important iteration of the plan since the requirement was introduced in 2006."

The policing plan can be viewed on police.gi