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Jeremy
J's Guy
Joined: 03 Oct 2002
Posts: 7823
Location: Aberdeen, Scotland
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 Thu Sep 16, 2004 9:22 am Tightening of Security after protest |
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| BBC News wrote: | Armed guard for MPs after protest
A protester in white T-shirt points a finger at MPs in the Commons
Armed police are guarding the Commons chamber for the first time on Thursday after pro-hunt protesters burst in as MPs debated a hunting ban.
Eight men were arrested and will be questioned by police on suspicion of forgery, burglary with intent to commit criminal damage and violent disorder.
The head of the Metropolitan Police says the invasion seems an inside job.
Meanwhile, the police watchdog is to examine claims of police misconduct at the hunt rally outside Parliament.
Thirteen people are also being held in connection with clashes with police that broke out at a pro-hunting rally outside Parliament.
POSSIBLE TIMETABLE
Oct: Lords debate
Nov: Bill forced through using Parliament Act
Feb 2005: Hare coursing ban
July 2006: Fox hunting banned
All dates assume Lords votes against
It is understood 19 people, including two police officers, were injured, none of them seriously.
But the main focus at Westminster is on the five protesters who burst into the Commons chamber on Wednesday. Another three men were overpowered at the chamber's entrance.
Police officers armed with guns are now positioned by the entrances to the Commons chamber - which previously have been guarded just by the serjeant-at-arms' staff.
Commons leader Peter Hain has called the incident "deadly serious".
He said Parliament was operating "as if in a by-gone age" and needed a director of security.
But Speaker Michael Martin said barred MPs from putting security questions to Mr Hain in the Commons at Thursday lunchtime, saying he did not want such issues raised publicly.
Scotland Yard said those arrested over Wednesday's Commons protest were aged between 21 and 42.
Serious questions need to be asked about how secure our major institutions are.
The men got into the Commons using a forged letter inviting them to a meeting on the committee corridor.
Once there, says Mr Martin, they were led to a small staircase, probably by a Commons passholder.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens says a full investigation has been launched, with police seizing documents and articles.
Sir John said the men had come in through the public entrance dressed in suits and hard hats and carrying clipboards before entering areas which needed a Commons security pass for access.
Amongst those understood to have been arrested are England polo player Luke Tomlinson, 26, a close friend of Prince Harry, Otis Ferry, 21-year-old son of rock star Bryan Ferry, and point-to-point jockey Richard Wakeham.
The men are being held at Charing Cross police station, where their solicitor, Matthew Knight, said they should all be released.
"They are not criminals and they were not caught doing anything," he said. "They did not hurt anybody, they did not do any damage, they didn't force an entry."
Mr Knight said there was a "political dimension" which would affect events.
Despite the protest, MPs backed a ban on hunting in England and Wales by 339 to 155 votes.
However, a ban, which will be debated in the Lords next month, is not due to come into force until July 2006.
It was not clear whether the pass holder who apparently helped the intruders was an MP, a reporter or an employee of a member, he said.
It has emerged the BBC was tipped off about the planned intrusion on Wednesday morning by one of the protesters and told of a "dry run" carried out on Tuesday.
The BBC said it had not been certain the incident would take place and the information had come from somebody the journalist had never met. No violence had been threatened, it added.
The incident has raised questions about whether Parliament's serjeant-at-arms and his staff, who traditionally wear tights and breeches, should be replaced by a security director and police.
MI5 and the police had already been reviewing security at Parliament, where a Tony Blair was hit by a flour bomb in May. Their report will be delivered within the next two weeks.
The Metropolitan Police want a review of the rule which bans police officers from banning the Commons chamber unless invited by the serjeant-at-arms.
The government has chosen the path of prejudice and spite - the reaction it unleashes will be entirely its own responsibility
Downing Street says there was "deep concern" about the protest at Thursday's Cabinet meeting.
Mr Blair's spokesman said it was initially a matter for the Commons authorities but he added: "The need for urgency is obvious."
Shadow home secretary David Davis told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "What we have witnessed is something which puts a large number of people at risk, not just in the House of Commons - it will encourage terrorists elsewhere."
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten said: "For many, this will be the final straw."
The Countryside Alliance says some of those who went into the Commons were its members, but it condemned the demonstration, saying it had detracted from the actions of 20,000 law-abiding protesters. |
This is after a protester for fathers-4-Justice got into Buckingham Place dressed as batman a few days ago. So much for tight security, they could have easily been terrorists.
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