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Date Published: 03/03/2025

Gibraltar border police inspector suspended for five months over passport control dispute

The officer was penalised after imposing illegal passport stamping checks, leading to long queues at the border

A senior Spanish police officer responsible for the Gibraltar border post has been handed a five-month suspension without pay after enforcing passport stamping controls that resulted in long delays for travellers on both sides of the border.

The Directorate General of Police imposed the disciplinary sanction on the chief inspector after internal investigations found him guilty of three serious offences. Two charges related to disobedience for failing to inform his superiors about the implementation of passport stamping, while the third was linked to the unauthorised use of a radio frequency antenna.

The decision means the officer will be suspended from both duty and salary for five and a half months, a penalty that has already been enforced. However, as this is a disciplinary measure, he has the right to appeal the decision.

The controversy began when the inspector insisted on stricter border controls in line with his interpretation of post-Brexit Schengen rules. This led to significant congestion at the crossing, with queues forming over several days, causing frustration for commuters and travellers moving between Spain and Gibraltar.

In response to the disciplinary action against him, the officer has filed a legal complaint against his superiors in a Cádiz court. He claims that the border control measures were not being correctly applied and demanded written instructions clarifying the procedures. His legal challenge highlights the ongoing uncertainty surrounding Gibraltar’s border regulations in the aftermath of Brexit.

Despite Brexit, residents of Gibraltar are still allowed to enter Spain without time restrictions or the need for a passport, while Spanish workers commuting daily to Gibraltar enjoy the same privileges when crossing into the British territory. However, ongoing negotiations continue to shape the future of the border arrangements between the UK and the EU.

This case has sparked debate over the interpretation of border control rules and the extent to which individual officers can enforce regulations without direct authorisation from higher authorities. The appeal process and the outcome of the legal proceedings in Cádiz will likely determine whether further action is taken regarding the inspector’s actions.

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