Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection

Duties

A unit of the Metropolitan Police Service, PaDP is responsible for providing officers (armed and unarmed) to protect the Palace of Westminster, which contains the Houses of Parliament; it protects government ministers and provides advice on threat levels. Within PaDP is a Parliamentary Liaison and Investigation Team (PLaIT), which is responsible for coordinating with local police forces and with the Parliamentary Security Department (PSD) that reports to the Speaker of the House of Commons and the Lord Speaker of the House of Lords.

PaDP is also responsible for the protection of diplomatic missions in the UK, consistent with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (which requires that a host country protect embassies and consulates, while preserving their inviolability). PaDP provides armed and unarmed security in both police cars and foot patrols, and uniformed and plainclothes operations.

History

PaDP was created in April 2015 through a merger of the Metropolitan Police Service's Diplomatic Protection Group (SO16) and the Palace of Westminster Division (SO17). It is the largest armed police unit in the UK.

The Diplomatic Protection Group (DPG) was originally formed in November 1974 as a branch of the Metropolitan Police Service devoted to the protection of diplomatic missions in Central London. DPG officers were also assigned to support security operations for royal weddings, state visits, and other special events. The group was elevated to a command in 1979 and later (with royalty protection) forming part of the Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Department.

The Palace of Westminster Division (SO17) was a branch of the Specialist Operations Directorate within the Metropolitan Police Service. In accordance with a contract and Special Service Agreement with Parliament, SO17 was responsible for security at the Palace of Westminster and the rest of the Parliamentary Estate.

In April 2022, after Met and IOPC investigations resulted in dozens of charges of on-duty rape against serving PaDP officers, Acting Metropolitan Police Commissioner Stephen House told the Home Affairs Select Committee that his inquiries into PaDP's culture had found the unit suffered from a lack of supervision because "[PaDP officers] don't see their supervisors enough, supervisors don’t know the officers well enough [and] there aren't enough [supervisors]."

Notable incidents

On 27 December 1972, police constable (PC) Peter Slimon, en route to his post protecting the Jordanian embassy, ran across an attempted bank robbery in progress at the National Westminster Bank at Kensington High Street. A gun battle ensued (a very rare event in London at that time). Slimon fatally shot one bank robber and wounded another; Slimon was himself wounded by gunfire. Slimon was awarded the George Medal for "outstanding resolution, devotion to duty and courage of a very high order" in tackling the robbers.

During the Iranian Embassy siege of 1980, PC Trevor Lock was taken hostage along with the embassy staff. The British Army's Special Air Service rescued the hostages six days later.

PC Keith Palmer, who was murdered in the line of duty in a terrorist stabbing attack in 2017 in New Palace Yard, was a member of PaDP.

Crimes by officers

Wayne Couzens

In early 2021, PC Wayne Couzens, who then served with PaDP,{{cite news|url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/ashford/news/sarah-everard-killer-was-deployed-as-parliamentary-guard-255016/|title=Sarah Everard killer Wayne Couzens was deployed as parliamentary guard

Separately, on 18 March 2022, Wayne Couzens was additionally charged with four counts of indecent exposure related to alleged incidents in January and February 2021, which the Independent Office for Police Conduct had previously determined were inadequately investigated by police.

David Carrick

Three days after Couzens was jailed,{{cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/breaking-serving-met-police-officer-25129075|title=Serving Met Police officer from same unit as Wayne Couzens charged with rape In November 2022, Carrick had an additional nine sex offence charges added to the 44 he was already facing, bringing the total of alleged offences to 21 counts of rape, nine counts of sexual assault, five counts of assault by penetration, three counts of coercive and controlling behaviour, two counts of false imprisonment, two counts of attempted rape, one count of attempted sexual assault by penetration, and a further count of causing a person to engage in sexual activity without consent. On 16 January 2023, while appearing at Southwark Crown Court, Carrick pleaded guilty to 49 offences against 12 women, including 24 counts of rape, which were committed between 2003 and 2020.

Phil Hunter

In August 2024, former PaDP officer Phil Hunter faced a disciplinary hearing for allegedly grooming women who had reported crimes to him. A BBC News report states "A former Metropolitan Police officer has been accused of 'a pattern of sexually predatory behaviour' for grooming two vulnerable women he met while on duty." Yet Hunter did not take any action on the crime reports. Instead, Hunter sought to build sexual relationships with the women.

References

References

1. "Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection".
2. [https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/jt201919/jtselect/jtrights/37/3706.htm Security at Westminster and beyond] in [https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/jt201919/jtselect/jtrights/37/3702.htm Democracy, freedom of expression and freedom of association: Threats to MPs], [[Joint Committee on Human Rights]] (2019).
3. In addition, PaDP is responsible for security at [[Downing Street]], which is home to the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Prime Minister]] and [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]].[https://www.london.gov.uk/questions/2020/1937 Questions to the Mayor: Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Unit polices], London Assembly (18 June 2020).
4. [https://embassymagazine.com/met-boosts-security-for-embassies/ Met boosts security for embassies], ''Embassy Network'' (21 February 2019).
5. [https://embassymagazine.com/envoys-learn-new-threat-security-seminar/ Envoys learn of new threat at security seminar], ''Embassy Network'' (18 January 2016).
6. [https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/police-from-the-parliamentary-and-diplomatic-protection-of-news-photo/1182927331 Police guard the entrance to Downing Street London.], Getty Images (22 July 2019).
7. [https://www.barrons.com/news/elite-london-police-officer-arrested-on-suspicion-of-murder-01615394709 Elite London Police Officer Arrested on Suspicion Of Murder], Agence France-Presse (10 March 2021).
8. "History of the Diplomatic Protection Group".
9. (11 December 2017). "Revealed: The Queen's concern at security shake-up for Royal family". Evening Standard.
10. "SO17 Palace of Westminster". Metropolitan Police Service.
11. Syal, Rajeev. (20 April 2022). "Met police culture problems 'not just a few bad apples', says acting head". [[The Guardian]].
12. Alvin Shuster, [https://www.nytimes.com/1973/01/03/archives/gun-battle-in-london-stirs-controversy-deterrent-stressed.html Gun Battle in London Stirs Controversy], ''New York Times'' (3 January 1973).
13. "Period 1946 to date".
14. {{London Gazette. (18 December 1973)
15. Eoghan Macguire. (10 April 2017). "London Honors Slain Terror Attack Police Officer Keith Palmer". NBC News.
16. "Sarah Everard murder: Wayne Couzens sentenced to whole-life order".
17. "Sarah Everard: Killer Wayne Couzens charged with four counts of indecent exposure". BBC News.
18. (3 October 2021). "Serving London Police Officer David Carrick Charged with Rape – October 3, 2021".
19. "David Carrick: CPS authorises nine further charges {{!}} The Crown Prosecution Service".
20. (17 March 2022). "Met police officer David Carrick charged with further rapes".
21. (24 November 2022). "Met Police officer David Carrick faces further nine sex offence charges".
22. (16 January 2023). "Met Police officer David Carrick admits to being serial rapist". BBC News.
23. (August 2024). "Met Police officer was sexual predator, hearing told".