MARCH OFTHE PC* BRIGADE
Or why the Queen’s guards are furious about being ‘babysat’ by armed police
CLAD in body armour and brandishing a lethal assault rifle, a police marksman diligently scans the crowds gathered outside Windsor Castle.
The specialist firearms officer is part of a massive operation to protect troops performing the Changing the Guard outside the Queen’s favourite residence – a ceremony carried out without fear for hundreds of years.
The disturbing scene witnessed by The Mail on Sunday last week is the result of fears of a Berlin or Nice-style lorry attack by Islamic terrorists.
We watched as 28 guardsmen resplendent in their bearskins were chaperoned along the entire 300-yard route by armed police officers and community support officers, and flanked by armed response vehicles carrying an arsenal of lethal weapons and ammunition.
Such is the concern at Government level that terrorists will launch a devastating strike on British troops that police chiefs ordered Guards regiments to scale down public ceremonies. But the MoS has learned the heavy police pres- ence at Windsor Castle is causing growing disquiet among soldiers who feel insulted that such an escort is necessary given that they continued to march without police interference throughout the IRA’s campaign of terror on mainland Britain from the 1970s to the 1990s. Last night, Irish Guards regimental secretary, Kenny Owen, 62, said: ‘The police want to babysit troops. Such a response on the streets of Windsor amounts to overkill and a complete waste of taxpayers’ money. ‘There is more security than soldiers. We were happy to perform cere- monial duties without a police escort even when the IRA wanted to kill us. A couple of additional armed officers would have sufficed as a response to the IS threat, not this overkill.
‘The police like to be seen and get involved. But I think they forget who is paying for it. What’s the point of those community support officers in their highvisibility jackets and the ceremonial wardens? If this situation did turn lethal they wouldn’t be able to respond.’
The MoS revealed last month how the Changing the Guard no longer takes place on Saturdays in Windsor because police believe jihadis could target soldiers and the thousands of tourists who gather to enjoy the spectacle.
The move follows the IS attack on a Christmas market in Berlin, which killed 12 people, and the terror strike in Nice last July when 86 people died.
When we attended the Changing the Guard on Friday, roads surrounding Windsor Castle were blocked by police cars, and armed officers took up positions on street corners before any soldiers even emerged from their barracks. Community support officers also lined the pavements and ceremonial wardens put out bollards.
Finally, at just after 10.45am, the regimental band of the Irish Guards began to play inside Victoria Barracks. Moments later 14 bandsmen playing pipes and drums and 14 guardsmen carrying assault rifles emerged.
Police officers set off in an armed response vehicle ahead of the procession while another vehicle brought up the rear. A crowd of around 500 tourists cheered and clapped as the troops arrived at Windsor Castle a few minutes later. The old Guard was then escorted back to barracks.
Thames Valley Police said: ‘Security measures have been put in place to reassure and increase the safety of the public and military.
‘The number of officers at the events has been increased along with reinforced road closures. The increased presence in police officers follows the review of our support to the Guard Change and is not directly linked to any increases in threat.’
‘There is more security now than soldiers’