WELL-PLACED sources inside Spain have confirmed to the Olive Press that the ‘drunk’ man checking passports on the Gibraltar frontier was the ‘rogue officer’ border chief.
Hypothesis had been mounting for the reason that video first surfaced per week in the past that the person, in a gray jumper and denims, may very well be the Policia Nacional chief inspector.
David Barrero, the senior officer who has been creating tensions on the delicate border crossing for a number of months, had reportedly been transferred away from the publish.
However now sources on the Spanish facet of the border have confirmed that the determine within the grainy video is certainly the contentious officer.
“Though I’m stunned as a result of he had been transferred away to different duties,” the supply added.
The video, filmed after darkish from a automobile within the queue, exhibits a white-haired man in denims and a jumper staggering round demanding to see passports.
Increasingly scooters and bikes arrive within the queue to look on in astonishment because the uniformed officers do nothing to intrude.
Whereas the video has no sound, it’s clear that the person’s actions trigger disquiet amongst these queuing to enter Spain.
At one second, he lurches backwards and urges a automobile to come back ahead, earlier than then leaning on its bonnet to examine the passport of a motorcyclist – whereas a uniformed officer watches close by.
The video appeared on-line round per week in the past, nevertheless it was not till El Pais revealed the identification of the Police Nacional chief answerable for manning the border with Gibraltar that observers observed the similarity between the 2 males.
Barrero has been the topic of intense controversy and diplomatic strain for his efforts to disrupt the border and unilaterally impose Schengen controls on Gibraltar.
The maverick border chief has even filed a denuncia within the La Linea courts in opposition to his personal superiors over the relaxed border preparations with Gibraltar, which he argued violated the Schengen code and left him with no authorized safety in case of an incident.
Nevertheless, in keeping with experiences in El Pais, Barrero determined to ‘go to warfare’ in opposition to his superiors after the incoming commissioner of police moved duty for the frontier to a separate division.
María José Martínez, who was appointed Commissioner of Police in La Linea in April 2024, moved management of the border away from Barrero’s unit, Unidad Central de Redes de Inmigración Ilegal y Falsedades Documentales (Central Unit for Unlawful Immigration Networks and Doc Forgery).
As an alternative she put it within the arms of l. a. Brigada Native de Extranjería y Fronteras (Immigration and Borders Brigade) below the command of Inspector Ignacio Trujillano Saborido.
Nevertheless, sources near Barrero painted a unique image: “He filed the criticism when he started to see that he didn’t have the help of his superiors.
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“If he doesn’t perform the legislation, they will accuse him of misconduct.”
In line with the El Pais report, Barrero’s actions shouldn’t have widespread help among the many rank-and-file, both.
“[The border arrangement] is a political determination, whether or not we prefer it or not,” a police supply acquainted with the state of affairs mentioned.
“It’s not one thing {that a} chief inspector decides.”
One other mentioned: “It’s not his job to start out conquering the Rock with soiled methods; that’s not his job.”
Nevertheless, specialists inside Spain have agreed that the interim association can not final eternally, and because the ongoing treaty negotiations over the border stall, ‘it turns into affordable to start to step by step apply the controls of their entirety.’
Barrero has already filed 4 formal complaints for irregularities on the border, together with over allegations that Gibraltar’s Chief Minister and Governor made latest crossings ‘with out correct authorisation from Spain’s International Ministry’.
However his clashes along with his superiors and disciplinary proceedings date again to January 2024.
Police sources state that certainly one of these instances refers to ‘when the Chief Inspector allegedly positioned an antenna on the border publish with out permission to manage the ships and boats that had been close to Gibraltar.’
Different points embody issuing worldwide arrest warrants for British army personnel who had entered La Linea.
