Friday, 24 March 2017

Lessons from the London Terror Attack



The Prime Minister Theresa May told MPs in a Parliamentary statement in the morning of 23 March:

Yesterday, an act of terrorism tried to silence our democracy, but today we meet as normal, as generations have done before us and as future generations will continue to do, to deliver a simple message: we are not afraid, and our resolve will never waver in the face of terrorism.”

She added: “at this time it is so important that we show that it is our values that will prevail, that the terrorists will not win and that we will go about our lives showing that unity of purpose and the values that we share as one nation as we go forward, ensuring that the terrorists will be defeated.”

She outlined the actions of the lone wolf terrorist thus:

“At approximately 2.40 pm yesterday, a single attacker drove his vehicle at speed into innocent pedestrians who were crossing Westminster bridge, killing two people and injuring around 40 more. In addition to 12 Britons admitted to hospital, we know that the victims include three French children, two Romanians, four South Koreans, one German, one Pole, one Irish, one Chinese, one Italian, one American and two Greeks, and we are in close contact with the Governments of the countries of all those affected. The injured also included three police officers who were returning from an event to recognise their bravery; two of those three remain in a serious condition.

The attacker then left the vehicle and approached a police officer at Carriage Gates, attacking that officer with a large knife, before he was shot dead by an armed police officer. Tragically, as the House will know, 48-year-old PC Keith Palmer was killed.

He was a peripheral figure. The case is historic: he was not part of the current intelligence picture. There was no prior intelligence of his intent or of the plot.

At 7.30 pm last night (22 March) , I chaired a meeting of the Government’s emergency committee, Cobra, and will have further briefings and meetings with security officials today. The threat level to the UK has been set at “severe”—meaning an attack is highly likely—for some time. This is the second highest threat level. The highest level—“critical”—means that there is specific intelligence that an attack is imminent. As there is no such intelligence, the independent joint terrorism analysis centre has decided that the threat level will not change in the light of yesterday’s attack.”

She stressed in her view “This act of terror was not done in the name of a religion; it was done, as I said earlier, as a result of a warped ideology. All acts of terror are evil acts underpinned by warped ideologies of different sorts…”

She also claimed: “Since June 2013, our police, security and intelligence agencies have successfully disrupted 13 separate terrorist plots in Britain.”

Adding,

“Following the 2015 strategic defence and security review, we protected the police budgets for counter-terrorism and committed to increase cross-Government spending on counter-terrorism by 30% in real terms over the course of this Parliament. Over the next five years, we will invest an extra £2.5 billion in building our global security and intelligence network, employing over 1,900 additional staff at MI5, MI6 and GCHQ, and more than doubling our global network of counter-terrorism experts working with priority countries across Europe, the middle east, Africa and Asia.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn  responded saying, inter alia:

“Many people will have been totally traumatised by yesterday’s awful events—not just all of us here, but those who were watching on television, worried for the safety of their friends and loved ones—so I ask in this House and in the country, please, that we look after each other, help one another and think of one another. It is by demonstrating our values—solidarity, community, humanity and love—that we will defeat the poison and division of hatred.”

    The Prime Minister responded,

“at this time it is so important that we show that it is our values that will prevail, that the terrorists will not win and that we will go about our lives showing that unity of purpose and the values that we share as one nation as we go forward, ensuring that the terrorists will be defeated.”

Outside Parliament, the streets were virtually empty, as many roads were closed (Whitehall, Victoria Street, Parliament Square and Westminster Bridge).  Westminster  underground station was closed. Life was certainly not going on around  Parliament as usual

https://static01.nyt.com/images/2017/03/23/world/23Parliament-06/23Parliament-06-master768.jpg

(People came to the aid of the wounded after the driver of a large vehicle mowed down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge.) 

Brussels Terrorist Attacks, a year earlier

Perhaps not by chance the Westminster attack took place exactly one year to the day that a horrific multiple terrorist attack took place at Brussels Airport and an on an underground train in the capital city of the Europen Union.

Theresa May, then the  home Secretary, made the following remarks to Parliament in response:

“The cold-blooded attacks in Brussels yesterday morning have shocked and sickened people around the world. Fourteen people were murdered and 106 wounded when two bombs exploded at Brussels airport. A further attack at Maelbeek metro station an hour later killed 20 people and wounded more than 100 others.”

“These were ordinary people simply going about their daily lives—families going on holiday, tourists visiting the city, workers making their way to their offices. They have been attacked in the most brutal and cowardly way,

“This is the 14th attack in Europe since the start of 2015. In January last year, gunmen killed 17 people at the office of Charlie Hebdo and a Jewish supermarket in Paris; in February, two people were shot dead at a synagogue and a cafe in Copenhagen; in August, an attack was prevented on a Thalys train en route to Paris; and in November, 130 people were killed, and many more were injured, in a series of concerted attacks in Paris. There have been further attacks in other parts of the world, including in Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Kuwait, Egypt and Tunisia, More recently, a suicide bomber killed at least five people and injured more than 30 in an attack in the heart of Istanbul.

“In the UK, the threat from international terrorism, which is determined by the independent joint terrorism analysis centre, remains at severe, meaning that an attack is highly likely. In the last 18 months, the police and the security services have disrupted seven terrorist plots to attack the UK.

“In London, the Metropolitan police have deployed additional officers on the transport network.

“….the UK enjoys the longest lasting security relationship in the world, through the “Five Eyes”, with our allies the United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. That relationship allows us to share information, best practice and vital intelligence to disrupt terrorist activity, prevent the movement of foreign fighters and stop messages of hate spreading.

“Following the attacks in Paris last November, our security and intelligence agencies have strengthened co-operation with their counterparts across Europe, including through the counter-terrorism group, which brings together the heads of all domestic intelligence agencies of EU member states, Norway and Switzerland. Through that forum, the UK has been working to improve co-operation and co-ordination in response to the terrorist threat and to exchange operational intelligence

This is the third statement to the House that I have given following a terrorist attack in just over a year. Each horrendous attack brings pain and suffering to the victims and their loved ones. Each time the terrorists attack they mean to divide us. But each time they fail.”

The then shadow Home Secretary, Andy Burnham, asked Mrs May:

“There was a report in The Observer late last year that Scotland Yard had briefed the Home Secretary on its fears about the lack of capacity in regional forces to respond to terror attacks. Is that true, and can she say more about it? Has she reviewed the ability of all major cities to respond, and can she provide assurance today that if there were to be a Paris or Brussels-style attack outside London, our police and fire services would have the necessary capability to respond?

She replied: “Everybody in this House condemns the terrorist attacks, and we will stand against anybody who seeks to divide our communities.” But pointedly did not answer his question.

She added: “We must fight this ideology and these terrorists, and ensure that the values that underpin our society, which the terrorists are attacking and trying to destroy, are maintained. That is one reason why the Government have looked not just at counter-terrorism, but also at our counter-extremism strategy. We want to work with communities across the United Kingdom to promote the values that underpin what makes this country such a great place to live in—values that are shared across the United Kingdom and across all communities.”

Mrs May also pointed out: “I think there is absolute unanimity around this House in our condemnation of these terrible attacks. There are two elements to the upgrade of the Metropolitan police’s armed response. I think that the 600 figure …is not the recruitment of new firearms officers but the training of existing officers in certain parts of the Metropolitan police. As I understand it, that training is under way. The uplift in armed response vehicles across the country..is also under way.”

And stressed : “The intelligence services in this country obviously look at any attack that takes place elsewhere in the world and at the information available to see what lessons we need to learn. The key has been the increase in co-operation and intelligence sharing off the back of these attacks. It is important we learn lessons when things happen. Of course, because of the attacks we have sadly suffered in the past, the UK has developed, particularly post 7/7, ways of dealing with these issues, and we are working and sharing our experience with others.” (https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmhansrd/cm160323/debtext/160323-0001.htm#16032339000003)

Promenade des Anglais atrocity

Barely months later, another major  lone wolf low- tech murderous terrorist attack took place on Bastille evening on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, on the French Riviera. On 18 July, Amber Rudd, the new Home Secretary ( Mrs May’s replacement) ,  addressed Parliament , observing inter alia:

“At least 84 people were killed when a heavy goods lorry was driven deliberately into crowds enjoying Bastille day celebrations…. More than 200 people were injured and a number are in a critical condition.”

“In the UK, the threat from international terrorism, which is determined by the independent joint terrorism analysis centre, remains at “severe”, meaning that an attack is “highly likely”. The public should be vigilant but not alarmed. On Friday, following the attack in Nice, the police and security and intelligence agencies took steps to review our security measures and ensure we had robust procedures in place, and I receive regular updates. All police forces have reviewed upcoming events taking place in their regions to ensure that security measures are appropriate and proportionate.

“The UK has considerable experience in managing and policing major events. Extra security measures are used …when the police assess there to be a risk of vehicle attacks—the deployment of the national barrier asset. This is made up of a range of temporary equipment, including security fences and gates, that enables the physical protection of ​sites.

“We continue to test our response to terrorist attacks, including by learning the lessons from attacks such as those in France and through national exercises involving the Government, the military, the police, the ambulance and fire and rescue services and other agencies.

She stressed however: “The threat from terrorism is serious and growing.”

Labour’s shadow Home Secretary, Andy Burnham, then commented :  

“Unlike other attacks, this was not planned by a cell with sophisticated tactics and weapons. A similar attack could be launched anywhere at any time, and that is what makes it so frightening and so difficult to predict and prevent.

Amber Rudd responded saying: “We have 170 counter-terrorism security advisers who are in touch with …when necessary, those in large cities—so that they can be given the right advice. That advice is being taken, so that we can ensure that people are as safe as possible.”


 

After the horrific Paris terrorist attacks in November the previous year,  Mr May made a statement to Parliament as Home Secretary (on 16 November 2015)

“The full details of last Friday’s horrific attack in Paris are still emerging, but at least 129 innocent people, including at least one British national, have been killed, with more than 352 injured and 99 of those declared critical.”

“In the UK, the threat level, set by the independent Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, remains at “severe”, meaning that an attack is highly likely and could occur without warning. In the past months, a number of serious plots have been disrupted here in the UK.”

 “Our law enforcement and security and intelligence agencies are working constantly day and night to keep the people of this country safe and secure, and the Government are taking all necessary steps to make sure they have the powers, the capabilities and resources they need. As soon as the attacks took place, we took steps to maintain the security of the UK. …The police have increased their presence on some streets and at some locations, and they will be intensifying their approach at events in big cities. Officers are working closely with London’s communities and businesses to provide advice and reassurance.”

“.. we have long had detailed plans for dealing with these kind of attacks in the UK. …Nevertheless, in the light of events in France, it is right that we should review our response to firearms attacks, and we are doing so urgently to ensure that any lessons are learned.

“Since 2010, the Government have undertaken significant work to strengthen our response to the threat that we face from terrorism. In 2014, we passed legislation to ensure that law enforcement and the security and intelligence agencies could continue to access the information that they needed. …Following any terrorist attack, we always consider the legal powers that we have to keep our country secure, but it is important that this landmark legislation undergoes proper parliamentary scrutiny.

“The police and the security and intelligence agencies do an incredible job to keep the people of this country safe. Their work often goes unseen and unrecognised, but we owe them an enormous debt of gratitude.

“The terrorists seek to divide us and destroy our way of life, but theirs is an empty, perverted and murderous ideology. They represent ​no one, and they will fail. France grieves, but she does not grieve alone. People of all faiths, all nationalities, and all backgrounds around the world are with her, and together we will defeat them.”


Charlie Hebdo terrorist attacks in Paris

Eleven months earlier, Theresa May as Home Secretary made another statement to MPs, after yet another terrorist attack in Paris, telling Parliament:

“It will take some time for us to learn the full details of the attacks last week, but the basic facts are now clear. Seventeen innocent people were murdered in cold blood, and a number of others were injured. ..As the appalling events in Paris were unfolding, this House was debating the Government's Counter-Terrorism and Security Bill, and the threat level in the United Kingdom—which is set by the independent Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre—remains at severe. This means that a terrorist attack in our country is highly likely and could occur without warning.”

“As soon as the attacks in France took place, the Government increased security at the UK border. Officers from Border Force, the police and other organisations intensified checks on passengers, vehicles and goods entering the UK, and we offered the French Government all assistance necessary, including the full co-operation of our police and security and intelligence agencies.

“On Monday, the Prime Minister, the Defence Secretary and I held a security meeting with senior officials to review the Paris attacks and the risks to the UK of a similar attack. Of course, we have long had detailed plans for dealing with these kinds of attacks. ..Since 2010, and learning the lessons of that attack, we have improved our police firearms capability and the speed of our military response, and we have enhanced protective security where possible.”

“The police and other agencies regularly carry out exercises to test the response to a terrorist attack, and these exercises include scenarios that are similar to the events in Paris. We will ensure that future exercises reflect specific elements of the Paris attacks, so we can learn from them and be ready for them should they ever occur in the United Kingdom.

The measures we have taken following events in Paris are in addition to the substantial work that the Government have undertaken, and continue to undertake, to counter the threat from terrorism.

We have always been clear that the police and the security agencies must have the capabilities and powers they need to do their job, and following the attacks in Paris the Prime Minister has reiterated that commitment. Unfortunately, when it comes to communications data and the intercept of communications, there is no cross-party consensus and therefore no Parliamentary majority to pass the legislation to give the police and security services the capabilities they need. Let me be absolutely clear: every day that passes without the proposals in the draft Communications Data Bill, the capabilities of the people who keep us safe diminish; and as those capabilities diminish, more people find themselves in danger and—yes—crimes will go unpunished and innocent lives will be put at risk.


 

Five years earlier -  in the dying days of Gordon Brown’s  Labour Governement -  the House of Commons  Home Affairs Committee, then chaired by Labour MP Keith Vaz,  issued a report  on  “The Home Office’s Response to Terrorist Attacks, with the somewhat alarming headline 

 “INSTITUTONAL INERTIA” THREATENING EFFECTIVENESS OF UK COUNTER-TERROR OPERATIONS

Existing counter-terrorism committees should be merged to form a “National Security Committee, the Committee concluded

A press release on the report said”

“In a report on the Government’s response to terror attacks published today, Tuesday 2 February 2010, the Home Affairs Committee calls for the merger of many different counter-terrorism committees into a single, formalised “National Security Committee” chaired by the Home Secretary or Prime Minister and assisted by a “Condoleezza Rice-style” National Security Advisor. 

The Committee also says that while the structures now in place may be suitable for combating the terrorist threat as currently constituted it is not confident that government institutions have the desire to constantly adapt to meet ever-changing threats; a lack of political will has hindered the institution of valuable reforms such as regional policing counter-terrorism units; and a “degree of institutional inertia has set in” to counter-terror operations in the UK and those involved in counter-terrorism “may be willing to settle for existing sub-optimal solutions”, rather than proactively reforming to meet ever-changing threats.

It cautions against the creation of a separate National Terrorism Agency modelled on the American Department of Homeland Security, saying that this has the potential to cause major problems and will not represent a major simplification of policing structures. Instead, the primacy of the Metropolitan Police in counter-terrorism operations should be enshrined in statute to increase accountability and simplify the command structures.

The Committee also says there must be changes in the counter terror measures put in place by Government, saying the control order regime, which has been plagued by questions about its legality since its inception, “no longer provides an effective response” and should be scrapped.  Instead the Government should immediately introduce legislation to allow the admission of intercept evidence in court, which would make the identification, charging and conviction of terror suspects easier; the Committee considers denying prosecutors the use of this power to be “ridiculous”.

The Committee chair, said:

“Too often in this inquiry we saw suggestions for reforms to the counter-terrorism structure rebuffed because “it works well at the moment”, or “the benefits are not yet proven”. We are very concerned that a degree of inertia has set in to the Government’s counter-terrorism planning and operations. The threat is ever present and ever changing and Government must above all be ever ready to adapt and innovate to meet this challenge. We believe it is time to appoint a more open, accountable National Security Committee assisted by Condoleezza Rice-style National Security Advisors to drive forward strategy and operations. This should not however detract from the primacy and centrality of the Metropolitan Police, and the regional forces they assist, as the core of our counter-terror operations. The Government’s response to terrorism must be as constant and adaptable as the threats we face are themselves, and should be clearly visible and accountable to both the public and Parliament.”

(Home Affairs Committee, 1 February 2010; (http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-archive/home-affairs-committee/hacpn100202no30/ )

At the time, the Government’s strategy for countering international terrorism—Project CONTEST—set out a detailed account of the history of threat, the impact that this has had on the UK, our understanding of the causes and our view of its likely direction”.

 CONTEST is split into four ‘work streams:

 

i. ‘Pursue’—to stop terrorist attacks;

ii. ‘Prevent’—to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting violent extremism;

iii. ‘Protect’—to strengthen our protection against terrorist attacks; and

iv. ‘Prepare’—where an attack cannot be stopped, to mitigate its impact.

This still remains the basic counter-terrorism strategy

Here is the contents list of the report on The Home Office’s Response to Terrorist Attacks (HC 117-I [Incorporating HC 1007-i & ii, Session 2008–09] published on 2 February

Report Page

Previous Work 4

2 Coordinating an immediate response 5

The policing structure 9

3 Legal Tools 14

The admission of intercept evidence 14

Control Orders 18

4 Funding and Counter-Terrorism Focus 21

5 Parliamentary Scrutiny 24

6 Conclusion 25

Conclusions and recommendations 26

Formal Minutes 30

Witnesses 31

List of written evidence 31

List of Reports from the Committee during the current Parliament 32


Academic insights

There are a multitude  of academic appraisals of terrorist threats and consequences. Here is one  fromth United States compiled shortly after the 9/11 attacks on theUS

 

A note on “Benefit-Cost Analysis for Malevolent Human Actions”  by D. Gordon Woo of  Risk Management Solutions prepared for the Columbia/Penn Roundtable in Palisades, New York, April 12-13, 2002, observed:

 

 

“In UK, anti-terrorism expenditure has been substantial over the past few decades in

meeting the IRA threat to potential military, government, and civilian targets. The cost

of terrorist action on the mainland, and the burden of providing protection, has been

borne by both the public and private sector. In their terror campaign, the IRA have aimed strikes at many different types of British target: from the Prime Minister’s residence to the Palace of Westminster, to bridges, highways, subway stations, commercial offices, department stores, hotels and pubs. Extra security for government buildings, (such as an entrance gate into Downing Street), and additional police guards, have served to mitigate the risk to this class of target. However, transport infrastructure is notoriously hard to protect, and bomb scares alone caused weekly disruption of the London subway system.

Given the priority of providing security for government property, it is inevitable that

police and military resources should be concentrated around this task. This leaves most

industrial, commercial and residential property exposed to some residual terrorism risk

that can be partially mitigated through adopting, and paying for, additional security

measures. But as the burglar alarm paradigm demonstrates, risk mitigation strategiesmay involve game-theoretic insights in even the most basic adversarial situations.”

 

It also says “Risk assessments at some UK nuclear installations are made to maximize the benefit of anti-sabotage expenditure.”

 

Adding: “The most glaring vulnerability of nuclear plants is to impact from large aircraft. In nuclear safety cases, this scenario is usually ruled out on the grounds of improbability as an accident: aircraft crashes are rare, and pilots are expected to make every effort to

avoid hitting built-up areas. The most serious near-miss arose when the ill-fated Pan-

Am jet disintegrated over Lockerbie, under the force of a terrorist bomb, only a few

kilometers from the Chapelcross nuclear plant near the England-Scotland border. With

the future prospect of kamikaze attacks on nuclear plants, the best defence is a shield of fighter jets, or anti-aircraft missile launchers, prepared to shoot down planes straying too close to a nuclear plant. These military assets could be collectively deployed in such a way as to prevent any one plant from being significantly more vulnerable to kamikaze

attack than another.

Where civil decisions are made to prevent commercial jets from being hijacked or stolen, there will be vulnerability differences between airlines and airports. The installation of bullet-proof cockpit doors is a safety precaution which some airlines have invested in so as to win back the confidence of anxious passengers as well as deter would-be hijackers.

Those airlines which are slow to introduce improved security measures may become

more likely targets. As with airlines after September 11, commercial airports are under

economic pressure to save expenditure where possible.  [….]Manchester airport in

northwest England announced that it was cutting the jobs of a number of security staff in

response to the downturn in air travel. Enticed by this publicity, a journalist succeeded

in smuggling weapons passed security barriers at this airport.”


 

Conclusion

 

The shocking events in Westminster on 22 March were both predicted and extremely limited compared to what a determined terrorist group could achieve in the UK.

 

The most vulnerable targets are the nation’s crucial national infrastructure, including the civil nuclear power installations

 

Ministers planning to expand this with  more than ten new  nuclear plants should wise up very soon.

 


    • Assessing the risk of terrorist attacks on nuclear facilities, report, July 2004 Published Thursday, July 1, 2004 In recent years there has been increased awareness of the risk of terrorist attacks ...



 

·         View PDF

 

Annex 1

British MPs  published Parliamentary motion in solidarity with their Indian Parliamentary colleagues in December 2001, perhaps little expecting their own Parliament would be the focus of an albeit much smaller attack 16 yeas later

Early day motion 572

http://www.parliament.uk/edm/2001-02/572

   ATTACK ON INDIAN PARLIAMENT

·         Session: 2001-02

·         Date tabled: 13.12.2001


That this House unreservedly condemns the terrorist attacks on the Indian Parliament on 13th December; expresses its sympathy to the families of the murdered security personnel and other staff; and considers this attack on the parliament of the largest democracy in the world to be an attack on the sovereign rights and freedoms of democratic peoples everywhere.

 

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Plaid Cymru
Ceredigion
17.12.2001
Labour Party
Sherwood
13.12.2001
Labour Party
Wolverhampton South East
18.12.2001
Liberal Democrats
North Cornwall
18.12.2001
Labour Party
Finchley and Golders Green
18.12.2001
Labour Party
Liverpool West Derby
17.12.2001
Labour Party
West Bromwich East
19.12.2001
Labour Party
St Helens North
13.12.2001
Liberal Democrats
Northavon
18.12.2001
Labour Party
North East Milton Keynes
13.12.2001
Labour Party
Swansea West
18.12.2001
Labour Party
Walsall North
13.12.2001
Labour Party
Glasgow Baillieston
13.12.2001
Labour Party
Great Yarmouth
13.12.2001
Labour Party
Sittingbourne and Sheppey
13.12.2001

 

Annex 2

Security information

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To ensure that Parliament remains a safe and accessible place for those who work within and visit Parliament, we have implemented a range of security measures. Please take note of them before and during your visit.

Visitors are admitted on condition that they will allow themselves and their belongings to be searched.

You may be asked to show proof of identity. Where applicable, please bring your ticket, confirmation letter or invitation with you as these will form part of the security procedures.

Search and screening

Airport style searches are in place at the Houses of Parliament. Please leave plenty of time to pass through security. You should expect this to take at least 15 minutes. At busy times, which are unpredictable, the delay will be longer. On Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons the queue can exceed 45 minutes. Please dress appropriately for the weather.  

Personal defence equipment is not permitted and UK law prohibits the carrying of certain self-defence items which are lawful in other countries. Any visitor found in possession of such items – e.g. flick knives, butterfly knives and personal defence sprays – is liable to be arrested. 

In addition, the following items are not permitted on the parliamentary estate and will have to be voluntarily surrendered at the entrance:

  • Sharp items e.g. knives (including Swiss army knives) scissors, cutlery and screwdrivers
  • Paint spray
  • Padlocks, chains and climbing gear
  • Items that make a noise (e.g. whistles)
  • Banners, placards and flags
  • Liquids that are not in sealable containers


If you require sharp items for medical reasons, please seek advice from a member of the security team as soon as you arrive.

You may also be subject to secondary searches once inside the parliamentary estate.

When you are ready to leave the parliamentary estate you will be able to retrieve any surrendered items from the entrance at which you were screened.

Items that have not been retrieved the same day will be taken to Hallkeepers Lodge hkl@parliament.uk where they will be kept for up to three months and then disposed of.

Bags and bicycles

Please restrict the size of bags brought to Parliament as there are no facilities for storing or leaving bags or other personal items. Commercial left luggage facilities are available nearby at Charing Cross, Victoria and Waterloo stations.

Folding bicycles, luggage and other items that are larger than 550 mm x 360 mm (approximately the size of airline cabin baggage) will be refused entry unless authorised in advance. Non-folding bicycles may not be brought on to the parliamentary estate. The nearest bicycle rack is on Millbank.

Animals

Animals other than assistance dogs are not permitted entry.

Inside the building 

You are required to wear the visitor pass issued to you and must return this when you leave. You should not leave bags or personal items unattended.

Security cameras

CCTV cameras, alarms and other security technologies are in operation across the parliamentary estate. Please read the Parliamentary Security Camera Policy for further information.

Further security information

Members of our security and visitor services teams will be available on your arrival, and throughout your visit, to assist you and answer any questions.

For further information about access, please contact saaenquiries@parliament.uk.

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