Passing out parade for Gibraltar’s new police officers

The latest recruit class of 17 Royal Gibraltar Police and Gibraltar Defence Police officers completed their training with a passing out parade yesterday.

As they did so, the Commissioner of Police Ian McGrail reinforced the challenges these new police constables will face whilst policing in Gibraltar and serving this community.

He said: “Your reputation is just what people think of you, your character is who you really are so protect it at all costs by doing the right thing.”

Fourteen RGP recruits and three from the GDP took part in the ceremony having completed four months of arduous training.

Police Recruit Parade 130319 {seq} ( Photo John Bugeja) with addresses delivered by Commissioner Police Ian McGrail and Minister Hon Neil Costa. Recruits inspected on parade by HE Governor

The Chairman of the Gibraltar Police Authority, Dr Joseph Britto, presented each recruit with their course certificates.

Additionally, three individual awards were presented; the Best All Round Recruit and Best Academic Recruit, were presented by the Minister for Justice, Neil Costa, to GDP PC Caruana and PC Arnold, respectively.

The Momy Levy award to the Most Improved Fitness, was presented by his wife Mrs Sarah Esther Levy to PC Guarnieri.

Mr Costa also addressed the recruits, telling them that they had already “done their country proud” when they were deployed operationally to assist in the coastal search that resulted in the recovery of three tonnes of cannabis resin.

“The Government is extremely grateful for the work the RGP and the GDP carry out day in and day out to protect and serve our community,” Mr Costa said.

Additionally and in reflecting on the terrorist landscape, the Justice Minister said Gibraltar is not immune from such threats.

Police Recruit Parade 130319 {seq} ( Photo John Bugeja) with addresses delivered by Commissioner Police Ian McGrail and Minister Hon Neil Costa. Recruits inspected on parade by HE Governor

The Government, he said, therefore supports law enforcement as best it can by listening to their advice and by providing investment for protective measures, equipment, personnel and training.

“The Government is fully supportive of your needs,” Mr Costa said.

The recruits were inspected on parade by the Governor Lieutenant General Edward Davis.

The ceremony, which was held at the Piazza, was attended by the Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, the Leader of the Opposition, Elliott Phillips, the Chief Justice Anthony Dudley as well as a host of other dignitaries.

Pics by Johnny Bugeja