MPs rejected gun cops as ‘off-putting’
MPS objected to armed police being deployed at the gates of Parliament because they were ‘off-putting’, ‘unwelcoming’ and created a ‘bad atmosphere’, it emerged last night.
In a survey by the Commons authorities, politicians and their staff also said security barriers outside the Palace of Westminster were ‘ugly’ and ‘out of keeping’ with a significant heritage site.
Their complaints were made in a survey in 2014, but it was unclear last night whether they had prompted the authorities to remove armed officers from the entrance used by Khalid Masood.
There were no armed officers at Carriage Gates on Wednesday when Masood charged through and stabbed Keith Palmer to death.
He was able to run several yards into New Palace Yard before being shot and killed by a Cabinet minister’s bodyguard who was only there by chance.
Both police and the Commons authorities refused last night to say whether armed officers had been officially removed from the gates because of the MPs’ complaints.
However, a major review of security at the Houses of Parliament has been launched amid questions over whether PC Palmer’s death could have been prevented.
It also emerged last night that work had begun to make Carriage Gates more secure as part of a ‘security enhancement project’ due to be completed by the end of this year, but MPs admitted it had not yet been completed.
The 2014 survey of MPs revealed many were unhappy with the level of security in place at the time.
The report, prepared for the cross-party Administration Committee, stated: ‘The security barriers outside the Palace were regarded as ugly and the presence of armed police was off-putting.’
Yesterday Liberal Democrat MP Tom Brake, a member of the Commons Commission, said: ‘The tragic events confirmed officers are very much in the front line and if they are unarmed they are vulnerable to opportunistic attack.
‘It is my understanding that the police officers who are the first port of call are unarmed and the review that the Speaker has initiated I’m sure will be looking at that.’
Last night MPs also said ‘ counter-terrorism bollards’ should be installed at key iconic sights across London to stop attackers rampaging down cycle lanes and mowing down pedestrians.
Parliament Square should also become pedestrianised to prevent cars and vans packed with explosives getting close to the Commons, they said.
A security assessment presented to a committee of MPs last month identified Carriage Gates, which is used by ministers arriving by car, as a weak point. The issue was raised again at a meeting around a fortnight ago.
A parliamentary spokesman said ‘security is our highest priority’ and a series of ‘exceptional meetings’ is scheduled for next week at which details of the review are expected to be discussed.