A major security breach at the heart of British democracy has been revealed, after an intruder managed to scale the perimeter and penetrate deep into the Houses of Parliament in broad daylight without being detected by security personnel.
Roof Climb Leads to Deep Infiltration
The trespasser gained access to the parliamentary estate on Sunday 30 November by climbing onto the roof of the Parliamentary Education Centre at the palace's southern end. From there, he entered the building and proceeded undetected into the very heart of the complex.
It is believed the man made it as far as the ornate Cholmondeley Room, a reception venue within the House of Lords. His presence was only discovered when a workman carrying out maintenance on the historic site spotted him and raised the alarm. Police were called at 13:04hrs and made an arrest at the scene.
Authorities Accused of Cover-Up After Latest Failure
The incident represents a severe embarrassment for parliamentary security, coming just months after the installation of a new high-security fence along the estate's boundary and the expenditure of £10 million on a door that reportedly did not work. The fence had been branded 'hideous' by peers.
Neither the Metropolitan Police nor parliamentary authorities publicly announced the breach or alerted all members and staff, leading to accusations of a cover-up to avoid negative publicity. One insider told the Mail: ‘After £10m on a door and other works which is still not fully operational, at least £4.5m on a high security fence it is a complete embarrassment that someone can just climb in and get so deep into the site before being stopped by a workman. No wonder it has been kept secret.'
Arrest and Ongoing Security Review
Devon Dorrall, 23, of Tilehurst, was charged on Monday, 1 December with trespass on a protected site. He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court the following day and was remanded in custody. A plea hearing is scheduled for 30 December. Police confirmed he did not come into contact with any staff or members of the House.
In response to inquiries, a House of Lords spokesman stated: ‘We can confirm a member of the public was arrested for trespassing on the Parliamentary Estate... Following the incident security arrangements were urgently reviewed and enhanced measures put in place.’ They confirmed that relevant domestic committees and office holders were informed, as per normal practice.
This breach is the latest in a series of security failures at Parliament, including:
- A phone being planted in the Commons chamber to play noises during PMQs last month.
- A man spending 16 hours on Big Ben's clock tower in March to unfurl a Palestinian flag.
- A 2019 incident where a man scaled the fence near Carriage Gates, years after security was strengthened following the fatal stabbing of PC Keith Palmer in 2017.
