Do police have cross-border surveillance and pursuit powers under the 2026 UK/EU Treaty in relation to Gibraltar?
Short answer
Yes. The 2026 UK/EU Treaty in relation to Gibraltar allows officers from Spain, or from the UK in respect of Gibraltar, to continue surveillance or pursuit of suspects across the Gibraltar–Spain boundary for serious listed offences. This applies where the person is presumed to have participated in specified crimes.
Detailed answer
Articles 55 and 56 of the published draft set out these powers, with practical modalities to be agreed administratively. The administrative arrangements supporting the Agreement were published on 14 July 2026. The offences covered are listed in an annex and are serious crimes. These measures are intended to prevent suspects escaping justice by crossing the frontier, which no longer has routine border checks. Status: the Agreement was signed on 14 July 2026 and has been provisionally applied since 15 July 2026, pending formal ratification.