§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department with which foreign countries Her Majesty's Government have reciprocal agreements 109W in force regarding the protection of certain embassy personnel by armed police guards.
§ Mr. CarlisleNone. But under international law the United Kingdom has a duty to take all appropriate steps to protect the premises of diplomatic missions.
§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what other premises besides embassies are regularly under the surveillance of armed police guards;
(2) how many embassies are at present guarded by armed police officers; how many police personnel are engaged in these duties; and how many times firearms have been used in the execution of these duties in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. CarlisleIt could jeopardise protection arrangements if details were given of the premises which are guarded by armed police officers and of the number of officers engaged in these duties.
The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that he knows of no occasion in the last five years when a police officer has fired a firearm in the execution of the duty of protecting an embassy.