MOD Police and the 'Met' join forces to combat terrorism

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Located in the busy tourist and central Government area of London's Whitehall, The Ministry of Defence's Main Building is in an area which remains a potential terrorist target.

MOD Police and Metropolitan Police conducting counterterrorist operations around Westminster
[Picture: Paul Kemp]

Tasked with patrolling the building, Ministry of Defence Police officers have recently begun working in the wider Westminster area with the Metropolitan Police Force on counter terrorist policing.

The officers, drawn from the South East Division of the The Ministry of Defence Police (MDP), have been involved in localised joint security operations with the Metropolitan Police Force in the Westminster area of London for some time.

These operations have also had a multi-agency dimension to them with HM Immigration Service and the Department of Work & Pensions working alongside the Police Forces. However, in recent months the operations have been refocused, with the emphasis on counter terrorist policing. This fits in with the MDP mission in this part of London as Sergeant Dave Johnson, from the MDP Whitehall, explains:

"The aims of our counterterrorist operations is to deter, disrupt and detect terrorists or their helpers. Operations can take the form of Section 44 vehicle checkpoints, using Automatic Number Plate Recognition, or high-profile foot patrols in crowded places near sensitive or iconic sites. The Met deploy plain clothes spotters to direct the uniformed patrols and increase their effectiveness."

A MOD Police Officer and his search dog check out the dustbins in Westminster
[Picture: Paul Kemp]

On one of these operations earlier this year, TalkThrough caught up with the team in action. Officers from MDP Whitehall gathered at the Old War Office for a briefing and were joined by members of SE Div Divisional Support Group (DSG) and an MDP Arms Explosive Search (AES) dog and handler. PC Craig Lavi from the Mets City of Westminster Security Desk and the MDP's Sergeant Dave Johnson reminded the officers of the aims of the operation; by use of slides they detailed the latest intelligence and assessments. CCTV images of several suspicious persons were also shown.

They were reminded that the whole Whitehall area is full of crowded places and are potential terrorist targets. On this particular operation, the area covered in the morning was to be the Victoria Embankment outside the MOD Main Building, to the Houses of Parliament. Crowds of tourists were queuing for pleasure boat trips or hanging about being photographed in front of Big Ben.

Temporary Chief Inspector Andy Wagon said:

"We usually only use Section 44 if we suspect someone. However under this legislation there is no requirement for these criteria to be met in order to use our stop and search powers. Of course we realise that this is a sensitive area but the majority of people we encounter are very cooperative and fully understand the reason for these searches. Our AES dog handler is in the area to make further checks if required."

MOD Police and Metropolitan Police officers agree taskings before starting their joint patrols
[Picture: Paul Kemp]

In the afternoon, the operations switched to an area a few blocks away near to the Home Office building in Marsham Street. Information is picked up from local contacts. A few days previously three people came into the building's foyer and seemed to be checking out the security arrangements. When challenged, they made off.

Also within the operational precinct that day was the Horseferry Road Magistrates Court, where a number of suspects in terrorist cases have appeared for preliminary hearings. T/Ch Inspr Wagon said:

"A lot of useful information is generated by these joint MDP and Met operations and a return to the Old War Office when it's over for a debrief is followed by our officers completing their 5 x 5 x 5 reports for intelligence submissions, these being captured and analysed for dissemination through both Forces' networks.

"Of course all these patrols are not instead of, but are over and above, our normal patrolling of the MOD Main Building; ensuring a safer environment for the MOD workforce. With this joint approach, together with all security staff in the government zone, we are all working towards the common objective of combating terrorism."

This article originally appeared in the September 2007 edition of Talk Through, The Magazine of the Ministry of Defence Police.

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