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Police security role at Parliament could be reduced Police security role at Parliament could be reduced
(about 5 hours later)
Police officers could be replaced by private guards to cover some aspects of security at the Houses of Parliament.Police officers could be replaced by private guards to cover some aspects of security at the Houses of Parliament.
The Metropolitan Police force currently provides all security services for the Commons and the Lords.The Metropolitan Police force currently provides all security services for the Commons and the Lords.
The airport-style security checks at the entrances to the parliamentary estate will be put up for tender - although the Met will continue to provide armed officers. In a cost-saving move, airport-style security checks at the entrances will be put to tender - although the Met will still provide armed officers.
It is an attempt to find savings in the £24m parliamentary security budget. Labour MP Barry Sheerman said he was concerned private security companies would rely on agency staff.
But parliamentary officials said there would be no downgrading of security as a result of any changes.
Imitation weaponsImitation weapons
The decision to split the contract was made by a joint committee of MPs, peers and security experts.The decision to split the contract was made by a joint committee of MPs, peers and security experts.
It is an attempt to find savings in the £24m parliamentary security budget.
The Met will be free to bid for the scanning and checking service alongside rival operators when the tendering process starts next year, so there could be no change to the current arrangements.The Met will be free to bid for the scanning and checking service alongside rival operators when the tendering process starts next year, so there could be no change to the current arrangements.
Parliamentary officials said there would be no downgrading of security as a result of any changes. Referring to the possibility of agency workers being used, Mr Sheerman said: "Security comes from highly motivated professional staff who care about the place.
Earlier this week Labour MP Barry Sheerman sought assurances that security would not be outsourced. "At a time when security is a serious concern, we are making ourselves highly vulnerable to churn and weakening our relationship with the Met Police."
He feared the contract would be awarded to a company such as G4S, which failed to provide enough security guards for the London Olympics. He also questioned Commons authorities' insistence that security at Parliament should not be discussed in public, claiming there was "seething resentment" among staff and MPs about what he described as a lack of consultation on the decision to split the security contract.
Commons Speaker John Bercow replied he was "very comfortable" with security arrangements of the House - but they would not be discussed on the floor of the chamber. After Mr Sheerman raised concerns earlier this week, Commons Speaker John Bercow replied he was "very comfortable" with security arrangements of the House - but they would not be discussed on the floor of the chamber.
Imitation weapons, swords and knuckle dusters are just some of the items confiscated by police at public entrances to Parliament in the past few years.Imitation weapons, swords and knuckle dusters are just some of the items confiscated by police at public entrances to Parliament in the past few years.