Palace of Westminster Division
Encyclopedia
The Palace of Westminster Division (SO17) is a branch of the Specialist Operations Directorate
, within London
's Metropolitan Police Service
. SO17 is responsible for security at the Palace of Westminster
, along with surrounding buildings which house administrative functions. Officers
of SO17 are unarmed as are the rest of the service, with armed security being provided by the Diplomatic Protection Group
.
Specialist Operations
Specialist Operations is a directorate of the Metropolitan Police. At its peak, SO was a group of twenty specialist units, which were formed to give the Metropolitan Police a specialist policing capability. The SO designation was implemented in 1986 as part of Sir Kenneth Newman's restructuring of...
, within London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's Metropolitan Police Service
Metropolitan Police Service
The Metropolitan Police Service is the territorial police force responsible for Greater London, excluding the "square mile" of the City of London which is the responsibility of the City of London Police...
. SO17 is responsible for security at the Palace of Westminster
Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons...
, along with surrounding buildings which house administrative functions. Officers
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
of SO17 are unarmed as are the rest of the service, with armed security being provided by the Diplomatic Protection Group
Diplomatic Protection Group
The Diplomatic Protection Group is a Specialist Operations branch of London's Metropolitan Police Service. The unit's main purpose is to provide specialist protection for diplomatic residencies in London, such as embassies, high commissions and consular sections...
.
See also
- Palace of Westminster Security
- United States Capitol PoliceUnited States Capitol PoliceThe United States Capitol Police is a federal police force charged with protecting the United States Congress within the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its territories.-History:...