walking without guards

[Jeneral2885]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7133563.ece

[EmilyKent]

1. Not a good thing to be doing.

I know it's supposed to show how down-to-earth he is and all, but it's dangerous. I think a compromise is in order.

[TheBigotBasher]

2. I think that this is a fuss about nothing.

Until the IRA bomb every PM from Thatcher and before made that walk. Until the IRA bombed Downing Street there were not even the iron gates at the front of Downing Street. Anyone could walk down that road. The IRA did not bomb the front of Downing Street though, they hit the back.

Cameron may not have his close protection with him in sight (although I bet they are there) but have some perspective, it is a 4 minute walk from the exit of the Members Chamber to Downing Street. Two of those are getting out of the grounds of the highly secure Houses of Parliament. That walk from Downing Street is probably on the most watched corner in the World. All kinds of people are there from strange and numerous divisions of the Secret Services (from the UK and abroad) to all types of "press" from bloggers to top selling Editors of newspapers. That area has more cameras, listening devices, people listening and watching than any other area in the World. In addition, the men on the roof of the Houses of Parliament, Portcullis House etc are not there as window cleaners (some may be).

Not to tempt fate but be aware that any person who tried anything would be dead before they could even strike and would be on every 24 hour news screen across the World as being a failure within 2 seconds after their attempt.

[Captain Hilts]

3. Not smart. Bordering on 'really stupid'.

It doesn't matter if you're Cameron, Clegg, Liz Windsor, Mick Jagger, Richard Branson, Prince William or Susan Boyle, you gotta have at least one, Big Mean Peep following you around.

[TheBigotBasher]

4. Not really.

If you need close protection you will have it. Most MP's do not have nor do they need close protection or "minders".

A list celebs have minders for the purpose of show and for the purpose of protection.

The key Royals will have close protection permanently. You can still see Harry out clubbing though.

Also when you travel to Westminster you will see a lot off famous people without close protection often on the tube, sometimes in one of the many bars.

The basics if varying a route and time will be known to anyone of interest or those that work with them in Parliament.

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. The article doesn't actually say he's walking without guards

It just says he's walking.

David Cameron is rejecting the advice of top security officials by insisting on walking around Whitehall, refusing police motorcycle escorts and demanding to be allowed to keep his BlackBerry smartphone.
...
Security analysis would suggest that if Mr Cameron is more vulnerable to attack, then the ministers and police officers walking with him, and the members of the public around him, are also at greater risk. Deeper concerns have been expressed that his actions undermine the Government’s message on national security. The MI5 threat assessment is now at “severe”, meaning that an attack is highly likely.

One former police protection commander told The Times: “He can’t have it both ways. He’s walking around like he’s at a garden party yet the public endures tight security at airports, and the Houses of Parliament are ringed with bollards, barricades and armed police.” Another source added: “With iconic figures, like royalty or the PM, there are also the threats you cannot assess — the fixated and the obsessed.”
...
Friends say that Mr Cameron already feels constrained by the constant presence of police officers and wants to be able to step outside the security net. An aide said: “Whenever he can the Prime Minister will want to try to be outside the bubble. It’s only a short walk to Parliament. Clearly, if the advice is that he absolutely can’t, he won’t but he will be reluctant to give that up.”

[TheBigotBasher]

6. Muriel, this one line says it all;

Deeper concerns have been expressed that his actions undermine the Government’s message on national security. The MI5 threat assessment is now at “severe”, meaning that an attack is highly likely.

Alternative reading:-
It does not help the Security Services market fear in a time of government expenditure cuts.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

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[T_i_B]

8. Entourage anyone?

The chances are that when Cameron does walk around Whitehall he'll be surrounded by a large collection of spin doctors, spad's, researchers and so forth so it's not likely that Joe Public will find very easy to approach David Cameron anyway.