RGP LAUNCH SUFFERS ENGINE DAMAGE IN CONFRONTATIONAL COLLISION WITH GUARDIA CIVIL TURBO VESSEL

Gibraltar Marine sections where yesterday noon alerted of a chase being given to a dory boat by the Guardia Civil semi-rigid launch two miles off the light-house. Shots were heard by people who watched from the lighthouse.
 
When the RGP semi-rigid launch neared the two vessels, which by then were alongside one another, the Guardia Civil launch headed for the RGP craft to ward it off. An exchange of worlds took place in which the RGP said that there was no need for hostilities and that the situation could be handled by talking. It is claimed by the marine section that the Guardi Civil reply was “estas aguas son nuestras y aqui mandamos nosotros”.
 
In the Dory where two men one of whom had his face covered in blood. In the Guardia Civil launch three bales could also be seen. Meanwhile the Turbo Launch 52 footer approached the incident area at full speed travelling from the port of Algeciras.
 
As the Turbo launch approached harsh words were exchanged between the Spanish authorities and the Gibraltarian officials that attended. Before long the huge 52 footer made its presence felt by manoeuvring aggressively between the vessels. This carried on recklessly until it collided with the RGP launch in attendance damaging one of its engines. 
 
The arrested men from the dory were taken aboard the "Turbo". The marine section left the area in a very frustrated and disappointed mood. One of the officers who Vox was able to interview said “  the marine section is inadequately equipped to deal with this sort of situation. The Guardia Civil are armed and when hostilities like these happen a serious injury could occur. There are only two options here, either we are given the equipment to deal effectively with this kind of situation or we allow the Guardia Civil to do as they please in our waters. They clearly show no respect to our authority and continuously claimed during our heated discussions that these are their waters and we had no jurisdiction. The Royal Navy was contacted but their response was that it would take them an hour to mobilise, something which is incomprehensible.”
 
Vox notes that there was a commitment given by the Chief Minister in Parliament 19 months ago to properly equip our enforcement agencies with suitable launches but nothing appears to have been ordered or arranged. Empty promises risk lives in this case.
 
Meanwhile, the story continues with the Guardia Civil launch making another illegal incursion this morning engaging Spanish fishermen in our waters exercising controls over areas that they ought not to have any jurisdiction or authority. 
 
Will this be allowed to continue until someone is seriously injured or a fatality occurs? Action needs to be taken NOW.