Pc’s murder blamed on lack of armed officers
Parliament security flaws contributed to killing as QC says Met had a duty to protect policeman’s life
Pc Keith Palmer, the police officer killed in the Westminster terror attack, might have survived were it not for security shortcomings, a coroner has ruled. Pc Palmer was killed by Khalid Masood, as he challenged the terrorist in New Palace Yard outside the House of Commons in March last year. Yesterday Mark Lucraft QC, the chief coroner, said Pc Palmer’s murder could have been prevented if armed officers had been positioned on the front gates.
POLICE CONSTABLE Keith Palmer might still be alive were it not for shortcomings in the security at Westminster, a coroner has ruled, as the officer’s widow accused the Metropolitan Police of leaving her unarmed husband to die with no protection.
Pc Palmer was killed as he challenged Islamist terrorist Khalid Masood in New Palace Yard outside the House of Commons in March last year.
Last night, Scotland Yard said it was “deeply sorry” and admitted it was “unacceptable” that the death of Pc Palmer, 48, might have been prevented.
Masood, who had just knocked down and killed four pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, stabbed Pc Palmer, a father of one, in the chest. Masood was then shot dead by a ministerial close protection officer.
But yesterday, Mark Lucraft QC, the chief coroner, said Pc Palmer’s murder could have been prevented if armed officers had been positioned on the front gates.
He concluded: “Due to shortcomings in the security system at New Palace Yard, including the supervision of those engaged in such duties, the armed officers were not aware of a requirement to remain in close proximity to the gates. Had they been stationed there, it is possible they may have been able to prevent Pc Palmer suffering fatal injuries.”
He found that the Metropolitan Police had a duty to protect Pc Palmer’s life, under Article 2 of the Human Rights Act, a ruling that could pave the way for his family to sue for damages.
During the inquest, it was revealed that the two armed officers who were on duty that day had been unaware that they were supposed to be positioned at the front gates.
Last night, Pc Palmer’s widow, Melissa, accused the Metropolitan Police of failing to be transparent about its failures and said senior figures were still failing to take responsibility.
She said: “How could Keith have been left alone, unarmed, guarding an open gate at one of the most iconic buildings in the world and one of the country’s top terrorist targets?
“He was left to die at a vulnerable location with no protection.
“The fact there were no firearms officers there for nearly an hour is hard to believe. I truly believe that if they had been there he would still be here today and Amy wouldn’t have lost her daddy.”
She added: “Nobody wants to take responsibility for leaving one of their own officers there unprotected when they knew that police officers were at risk of attack at this vulnerable location. What makes it even worse is that this lax security had been carrying on for years and it has taken what happened to Keith for things to change. They let Keith down by failing to protect him and let us down by failing to investigate his death properly.
“Now we have to live with the consequences of their failure.”
Angela Clark and Michelle Palmer, the Met officer’s sisters, also criticised Scotland Yard, accusing senior officers of “closing ranks”.
In a statement, they said: “We expected the Met to welcome an open and transparent examination of this horrific attack on its own officer and members of the public, yet instead senior officers seem to have closed ranks.
“What message does this send to ordinary officers bravely reporting for duty every day, to keep us all safe?”
Responding to the coroner’s findings, Neil Basu, Scotland Yard’s head of counter-terror policing, said: “We unreservedly accept his conclusions.
“Even the possibility that the Met lost the chance to prevent the murder of such a brave and courageous officer is unacceptable. For the loss of that possibility to protect him from Khalid Masood, we are deeply sorry.”
Mr Basu said Pc Palmer “acted with tremendous bravery and heroism” on the day of the attack, adding that “his courage will never be forgotten”.
Senior Met figures had claimed that Pc Lee Ashby, and Pc Nicholas Sanders, had been breaching official policy by undertaking roving patrols.
But giving evidence at the Old Bailey inquest, both officers insisted they had been completely unaware that the policy had changed in 2015 to recommend fixed positions for authorised firearms officers (AFOS).
Pc Palmer’s family suggested the Met had “hung the officers out to dry” by suggesting they were in some way to blame for what had happened.
The Old Bailey heard from Chief Supt Nick Aldworth, who used to be in charge of security at Westminster.
It was suggested he had been responsible for a change in policy in 2015 that told armed officers to move around in order to be more unpredictable to hostile reconnaissance and terrorist attacks.
He denied this, however, telling the inquest that the officers “should have been” at the gates on the day.
Mr Aldworth was promoted to National Counter-terrorism Police HQ and made national coordinator of the Government’s strategy against terrorist attacks.
Other senior Met officers also gave contradictory evidence over the security arrangements at Westminster, leading to accusations that the force had failed to ensure that its officers knew what they were supposed to be doing.
‘How could Keith have been left alone, unarmed… at a vulnerable location with no protection to die?’