Project Servator was formally launched in Gibraltar on June 1 2018 following a 6 month trial and the provision of specialist training to a select number of officers. It is now one of several Key Performance Indicators within the National Security objective of the Annual Policing Plan, and is endorsed by the Gibraltar Contingency Council & Gibraltar Police Authority.
Project Servator is a policing tactic involving unpredictable highly visible deployments using a variety of specialist resources as part of an inclusive collaborative community strategy, designed to deter, disrupt and detect a wide range of criminal activity including terrorism. It was researched and developed in 2012 by experts from the UK Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) together with the City of London Police, which began using this tactic in 2014. Since then, 13 UK police forces (including the Metropolitan, City of London & British Transport police forces amongst others have formally adopted Project Servator, with several other UK forces presently undertaking trials. Gibraltar is currently the only location outside mainland UK where this project is licensed to operate.
Commenting on the 1st anniversary of the project’s launch in Gibraltar, RGP Assistant Commissioner Richard Ullger said: “Since the launch of Project Servator, the RGP have had more opportunities than ever to engage with residents, traders and visitors to Gibraltar at various levels as well as with our growing network of strategic partners.
“From tackling crime and anti-social behaviour, locating vulnerable missing people or catching wanted criminals, the support of people visiting and working in our community is crucial to the ongoing success of our deployments.
“The Servator vigilance network is supported by the use of specialist resources such as plain-clothes officers, armed officers and police dogs as well as less visible measures, including CCTV, a fantastic tool in the fight against crime. Since adopting this tactic, we have invested significantly in specialist training for officers locally and in the UK.”
Part of the work behind the scenes in parallel to deployments on the ground has included support from RGP Facebook & twitter feeds, engagement with traders and other key strategic stakeholders. Recent examples include an ongoing programme to facilitate the hosting of Project Servator messaging on third-party websites and more recently, supporting the Island Games organising committee with regards to the provision of bespoke security awareness training at various levels as part of the wider policing operation for this event.
Terence Lopez, Chief Executive of Gibraltar International Airport, one of several locations where Project Servator operates said: “We work in close partnership with the RGP across various forums daily to ensure the airport is safe and secure for all our passengers and staff. The arrival of Project Servator and its use of the latest, proven techniques and methods to deter and detect criminality and terrorism, has contributed in providing additional reassurance to all airport users while maintaining and further enhancing security across the airport. I encourage everyone at the airport to actively engage with and support Project Servator officers so they know what to be on the lookout for and how to report suspicious activity. Everyone can play a part to keep the Airport and Gibraltar safe.”
Everyone can play an important role in keeping Gibraltar safe by being vigilant and reporting any suspicious behaviour either to a police officer or by calling 20072500 (if not-urgent) or 199 in an emergency. You can also email servator@royalgib.police.gi