Diplomatic Protection Group

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The Diplomatic Protection Group (DPG or SO16, from its Specialist Operations designation) is a branch of the London Metropolitan Police which provides protection and support to members of the Diplomatic Community and members of HM Government. The DPG provides protection at 10 Downing Street.

Uniquely in the Metropolitan Police, DPG vehicles are painted red.

The DPG also provides firearms back up for the Metropolitan Police Service. It consists of officers who are highly trained, experienced and motivated in dealing with all aspects of effective policing. It exists so that the vast majority of policing activities throughout London can be conducted in the traditional manner by unarmed officers.

The Diplomatic Protection Group originated as A11. This was created in 1974 to replace Special Patrol Group men assigned to guard diplomatic and consular missions in London. It became a permanent unit in 1980, and joined the Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Group in 1983. It remains operationally separate, and responsibilities include protecting diplomatic premises and personnel, and protecting visiting Heads of State and high-risk VIPs when they are staying in hotels or other premises. Police are armed and uniformed, and provide static policing, fixed posts, mobile cars, solo motorcycles, and personnel carriers. Protection is also provided for certain political figures, and support for security London royal palaces and the Palace of Westminster. In 2003 it manned 40 fixed posts and guarded 199 diplomatic missions.

The DPG is part of the Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Department, and is commanded by Chief Superintendent Jamie Stephen.

Those currently under protection by the DPG (list not exhaustive) include:-

The Prime Minister, The Deputy Prime Minister, The Home Secretary, The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, The Secretary of State for Defence, The Chancellor, The Chief of the Defence Staff, The Downing Street Chief of Staff, Baroness Thatcher, Baron Major, The Rt Hon David Cameron MP (for specific events), The Rt Hon Jack McConnell (First Minister of Scotland) and most Foreign embassies in London.

[edit] The future

In 2005 the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Ian Blair, announced that Specialist Operations units were to be re-aligned. The plans included forming 3 new departments within Specialist Operations to carry out specific functions:

Protecting People, (Splitting the functions of both SO14 & SO16 and merging them with parts of SO17, SO18 and SO12)
Protecting Places, (Splitting the functions of both SO14 & SO16 and merging them with parts of SO17 and SO18)
Counter Terrorism Command (Merging SO12 & SO13 together)