A significant security incident unfolded at the heart of British democracy when two serving police officers from Washington State, USA, were denied access to the UK Parliament after failing to provide the necessary authorization.
The incident occurred on Wednesday and prompted an immediate response from parliamentary security teams. According to sources, the officers were in the UK on an official visit but had not arranged the required access permissions through the proper diplomatic channels.
MP Raises Alarm in the Commons
Labour MP Stephen Doughty brought the matter to the attention of the House of Commons, highlighting a potential serious breach of security protocols. He revealed that the officers had presented their US law enforcement badges at the parliamentary entrance in an attempt to gain access, a method that is not recognized by UK parliamentary security.
Mr Doughty expressed grave concern, stating the event underscored a "very serious issue" regarding the enforcement of access rules to one of the UK's most secure and sensitive sites.
Official Response and Reassurances
A spokesperson for the House of Commons confirmed the incident, assuring that security protocols were followed correctly. "Visitors to Parliament must be sponsored by an accredited pass-holder and have a pre-booked tour. These visitors did not have the correct arrangements in place and were correctly denied entry," the spokesperson said.
The incident has sparked a broader discussion about the robustness of security measures at the Palace of Westminster, particularly concerning foreign officials and the protocols for verifying their credentials.
