A week after the Treaty governing Gibraltar’s new relationship with the European Union came into effect, the Government is pleased to confirm that all digital security systems and the enhanced security posture across Gibraltar is working well.

The new Public CCTV network covering the border area, pedestrian and vehicular approaches to the border, parts of Devil’s Tower Road and Winston Churchill Avenue, together with Casemates Square and the entirety of Main Street, continues to operate effectively. The CCTV network is operated, monitored and maintained 24/7 by a dedicated CCTV control room operated by a security contractor working in conjunction with the Royal Gibraltar Police, who are the designated Data Controller for this scheme. The direct communication between the dedicated Public CCTV Control Room and RGP Headquarters also enables the ability of the RGP to view and take over monitoring. This network can also be viewed from New Mole House in the event of an incident or pre-planned police operation such as those that occur during Gibraltar public events in the city centre.

The existing Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) network currently in operation at Gibraltar’s Border and Port areas continues to be enhanced with expansion into parts of Devil’s Tower Road and Winston Churchill Avenue.

The new Live Facial Recognition (LFR) system is similarly deployed to cover Gibraltar’s border area, within Joshua Hassan Gibraltar International Airport, pedestrian and vehicular approaches to the border, parts of Devil’s Tower Road and Winston Churchill Avenue, together with Casemates Square and the entirety of Main Street. This system is operated and maintained 24/7 by an appointed security contractor working in conjunction with the Royal Gibraltar Police, who are the designated Data Controller for this scheme. The RGP are also responsible for managing and updating the current LFR watchlists, and responding to any positive alerts triggered by the system, which are sent directly to the RGP’s Control Room and duty 24/7 uniformed Response Teams for interception.

The images captured by these systems are being monitored and recorded for the Prevention and Detection of Crime, and Safeguarding Public Safety and National Security. A large number of images have been processed during the system’s first week in operation, with no positive matches detected against Police watchlists.

The Chief Minister, the Hon Fabian Picardo KC MP, said:

“I have been emphatic that Gibraltar would be safer than ever after the implementation of the Treaty, and I’m pleased to confirm that is the case. In addition to the increased presence and resources of Gibraltar’s law enforcement agencies in the area of the border, our complete network of digital assets, including live facial recognition, is performing very well. The Royal Gibraltar Police stand ready 24/7 to respond immediately to anyone on their watchlist who is picked up by the system, and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of Gibraltar’s law enforcement agencies for their stellar work in keeping Gibraltar safe.”