I am Optimistic About the Police Authority
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22 July, 2006 03:47
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What are your views on the proposed police authority?
I welcome it. Gibraltar has needed a police authority for some time. I think policing in Gibraltar carries with it certain difficulties that you do not find elsewhere; the airport, borders and so on. And Gibraltar needs a police authority to ensure that the police carry out their duties in an effective and fair manner. I view the police authority as a ‘critical friend’ of the police. It can highlight when we get it right but also offer suggestions for improvement. I have my own views on policing but I also need to know the views of others especially those who are not connected to the police. I am looking forward to working with the police authority.
Are you happy with the present format of the police authority?
I have been consulted on the format and have aired my views and yes I’m happy with the present format. I think we need to give it time to ensure that it works in practice but I'm happy with it. We must make sure we do not simply criticise without giving it a chance. It’s a positive step and we must be optimistic.
Are you happy with the appointments that have been made?
I am pleased about the appointment of Eddie Guerrero as chair of the authority and I have no complaints with the other appointees; they were to be expected. I hope that a wide section of the community get involved and apply for a place on the authority. Public Involvement is essential to the authority.
The police have issues which we believe are the right priorities to focus our work on but the public may have other issues which are important to them so a balance has to be kept and that is the value of having a police authority.
Do you feel that the proposed format of the authority allows enough independence?
Yes I feel it does. The police authority must be independent. It is a problem with the police that when dealing with complaints against our own officers we go that little bit extra to ensure transparency but the police authority will take over the work of the Police Complaints Board and so that should no longer be an issue. The police will fully assist with the work of the police authority but it has to be allowed to do its work.
Will it not be too late to make necessary changes once the authority is operating and we discover problems?
In Gibraltar we view change with scepticism. I believe in change for the sake of progress. The police authority works very well in the UK. I see no reason why it should not work here but yes if things don't work out as I hope they will, it could be too late to make changes.
There has been a large amount of public criticism of the authority. Do you think this has damaged the authority in terms of public trust in the body?
I think we should allow the authority to operate for a year. It is good for Gibraltar. It will provide for people to have a bigger say what it is that the community want the police to do.
Panorama newspaper, a fellow Gibraltarian paper, have expressed concerns through Leo Olivero, a former police officer. Do you note his concerns when they come from a former police officer?
Leo Olivero is not in a situation to know how to deal with present issues. The best people to deal with the present problems are the people who are here now. Policing changes. Once someone has been away from the force for a long time it is very different for them to judge the present state of things. ‘I am not saying Leo Olivero is right or wrong’, things move very quickly and consequently change comes about. It is amazing how outdated you can become once you’ve retired not just in policing but from everywhere. You lose contact. You lose contact. You cannot use the experience you had acquired then, now. Things change. And if you can't keep yourself updated with current events because you are no longer with the force, and though you may think you are right, you may be wrong. You may have been right then but not in the present climate.
Do the differences between the UK and Gib versions of police authorities concern you?
You cannot carbon copy everything from the UK. It doesn’t work. You must adapt it to local needs. The difference from the UK is that there are councillors in the UK, which we don’t have here.
‘The police authority is the voice of the community’. There cannot be vested interest with the authority. ‘Politicians cannot be allowed to be part of that authority'. It is good to adapt from the UK but not adopt. It doesn’t work.
Do you think the appointees so far have no vested interest considering they are the Chief Minister’s and Governor’s Appointees?
Security is the responsibility of the governor so he has to have a say there. The government controls the police's budget so must have some influence on the board; that’s partly why councillors are on the police authorities in the UK. But there will also be great public participation. I am not concerned about the authority. It is good for Gibraltar.
Last week in VOX we questioned the focus of the police road watch campaign. Do you share our concerns?
I want to say that I agree with you that the biggest menace on our roads are the mopeds and motorbikes. But we are working hard on the issue. We have signs out but what needs to happen is for a points system to be introduced so that the threat for riders is the loss of their licence; that would deter them much more than the present fine.
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