Protection Command
Encyclopedia
The Protection Command is one of the three Commands within the Specialist Operations
directorate of London
's Metropolitan Police Service
. Within the Command, there are two branches - Specialist Protection and Royalty Protection, who provides protective security to the government
/diplomatic community
and Royal Family
respectively. In contrast with the vast majority of British police officers, many members of the Protection Command routinely carry firearm
s in the course of their duties and all are Authorised Firearms Officer
s.
, along with other government ministers
. They also protect certain ambassador
s, visiting dignitaries and other high-profile citizens who are deemed to be under threat from possible assassination
or terrorist threat.
Specialist Protection officers
may be deployed at short notice, when information has been received that someone may be under threat. The Command is also responsible for carrying out security assessments on civilian staff employed by those under protection, along with assessing security risks to the person protected. Specialist Protection officers also offer personal protection advice to people who could benefit from being protected, but who are not deemed to be of such a need that protection from the Command is necessary.
both nationally and internationally. The branch has responsibility both for guarding the Royal residences within London
and those outside the city such as Windsor Castle
, Balmoral Castle
and Holyrood Palace
, policing members of the public on tours of certain royal residences as well as providing 24-hour uniformed
guarding of certain royal buildings. The branch also offers protection for foreign royals visiting the United Kingdom
.
As with all police officers of territorial police force
s in England & Wales, Metropolitan Police officers have the powers and privileges of a constable
throughout England and Wales. However, when assigned to the protection of people or property in Scotland
or Northern Ireland
, Metropolitan Police officers, uniquely, also have the powers and privileges of a constable of the local territorial police force in the discharge of that duty.
(SO6) provides protection for foreign missions in London, including protecting Diplomatic Staff, Embassies, ambassadorial residences, and visiting heads of state, heads of government, and ministers.
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...
directorate of 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...
. Within the Command, there are two branches - Specialist Protection and Royalty Protection, who provides protective security to the government
Government
Government refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
/diplomatic community
Diplomacy
Diplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states...
and Royal Family
British Royal Family
The British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The term is also commonly applied to the same group of people as the relations of the monarch in her or his role as sovereign of any of the other Commonwealth realms, thus sometimes at variance with...
respectively. In contrast with the vast majority of British police officers, many members of the Protection Command routinely carry firearm
Firearm
A firearm is a weapon that launches one, or many, projectile at high velocity through confined burning of a propellant. This subsonic burning process is technically known as deflagration, as opposed to supersonic combustion known as a detonation. In older firearms, the propellant was typically...
s in the course of their duties and all are Authorised Firearms Officer
Authorised Firearms Officer
An Authorised Firearms Officer is a British police officer who has received training and authorisation to carry and use firearms. The designation is significant because within the United Kingdom, police officers do not routinely carry firearms...
s.
Specialist Protection
The Specialist Protection branch (SO1) is responsible for providing specialist protection for the current and former Prime MinistersPrime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
, along with other government ministers
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
. They also protect certain ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
s, visiting dignitaries and other high-profile citizens who are deemed to be under threat from possible assassination
Assassination
To carry out an assassination is "to murder by a sudden and/or secret attack, often for political reasons." Alternatively, assassination may be defined as "the act of deliberately killing someone, especially a public figure, usually for hire or for political reasons."An assassination may be...
or terrorist threat.
Specialist Protection officers
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
may be deployed at short notice, when information has been received that someone may be under threat. The Command is also responsible for carrying out security assessments on civilian staff employed by those under protection, along with assessing security risks to the person protected. Specialist Protection officers also offer personal protection advice to people who could benefit from being protected, but who are not deemed to be of such a need that protection from the Command is necessary.
Royalty Protection
The Royalty Protection branch (SO14) provides protection for the Royal FamilyBritish Royal Family
The British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The term is also commonly applied to the same group of people as the relations of the monarch in her or his role as sovereign of any of the other Commonwealth realms, thus sometimes at variance with...
both nationally and internationally. The branch has responsibility both for guarding the Royal residences 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...
and those outside the city such as Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
, Balmoral Castle
Balmoral Castle
Balmoral Castle is a large estate house in Royal Deeside, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is located near the village of Crathie, west of Ballater and east of Braemar. Balmoral has been one of the residences of the British Royal Family since 1852, when it was purchased by Queen Victoria and her...
and Holyrood Palace
Holyrood Palace
The Palace of Holyroodhouse, commonly referred to as Holyrood Palace, is the official residence of the monarch in Scotland. The palace stands at the bottom of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, at the opposite end to Edinburgh Castle...
, policing members of the public on tours of certain royal residences as well as providing 24-hour uniformed
Uniforms and equipment of the British police
Police uniforms and equipment in the United Kingdom have varied considerably from the inception of what was to become the earliest recognisable mainstream police force in the country with the Metropolitan Police Act of 1829...
guarding of certain royal buildings. The branch also offers protection for foreign royals visiting the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
As with all police officers of territorial police force
Territorial police force
The phrase Territorial Police Force varies in precise meaning according to the country to which it is related, generally distinguishing a force whose area of responsibility is defined by sub-national boundaries from others which deal with the entire country or a restricted range of...
s in England & Wales, Metropolitan Police officers have the powers and privileges of a constable
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
throughout England and Wales. However, when assigned to the protection of people or property in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
or Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, Metropolitan Police officers, uniquely, also have the powers and privileges of a constable of the local territorial police force in the discharge of that duty.
Diplomatic Protection Group
The Diplomatic Protection GroupDiplomatic 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...
(SO6) provides protection for foreign missions in London, including protecting Diplomatic Staff, Embassies, ambassadorial residences, and visiting heads of state, heads of government, and ministers.
In the media
Due to their role in protection of high profile persons, the Protection Command attracts media attention:- In 1994, an officer from the command shot himself in the leg during target practice.
- In 2000, an officer accidentally discharged his weapon aboard the royal train while assigned to protect Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of EdinburghDuke of EdinburghThe Duke of Edinburgh is a British royal title, named after the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, which has been conferred upon members of the British royal family only four times times since its creation in 1726...
. - In 2009, allegations were made in court by the barrister representing a former Royalty Protection Officer facing charges of fraud . The allegations suggested that officers had acted inappropriately within Buckingham Palace. None of the allegations was substantiated, the barrister withdrew from the court case prior to its end and the former officer making the allegations was subsequently convicted of fraud.
- In 2011 an officer was suspended, and subsequently dismissed, over allegations that he had an affair with his protectee's wife and secretary
See also
- Australian Federal PoliceAustralian Federal PoliceThe Australian Federal Police is the federal police agency of the Commonwealth of Australia. Although the AFP was created by the amalgamation in 1979 of three Commonwealth law enforcement agencies, it traces its history from Commonwealth law enforcement agencies dating back to the federation of...
- Counter Terrorism CommandCounter Terrorism CommandCounter Terrorism Command or SO15 is a Specialist Operations branch within London's Metropolitan Police Service. Counter Terrorism Command was established as a result of the merging of the Anti-Terrorist Branch , and the Special Branch in 2006, to form a single counter-terrorism investigative unit...
- Territorial Support GroupTerritorial Support GroupThe Territorial Support Group is a Central Operations unit of London's Metropolitan Police Service consisting of 720 officers, that specialises in public order containment among other specialist policing. The TSG is a uniformed unit of the MPS that replaced the controversial Special Patrol Group...
- United States Secret ServiceUnited States Secret ServiceThe United States Secret Service is a United States federal law enforcement agency that is part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The sworn members are divided among the Special Agents and the Uniformed Division. Until March 1, 2003, the Service was part of the United States...
- Fixated Threat Assessment CentreFixated Threat Assessment CentreIn the United Kingdom, the Fixated Threat Assessment Centre is a joint police/mental health unit set up in October 2006 by the Home Office, the Department of Health and Metropolitan Police Service to assess and manage the risk to politicians, members of the British Royal Family, and other public...