Radical plan to seal off Commons with new security perimeter and road closures as officials try to boost protection following the Westminster attack

  • Plans could see security perimeter extending to Parliament Square
  • This could mean closing the road outside the Commons to the public
  • Westminster council chiefs set to meet with MPs to hammer out security plans 

By BRENDAN CARLIN POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE MAIL ON SUNDAY

Published: | Updated:

Parliament would be protected by a new security 'air lock' under a radical plan being considered in the wake of the latest terror attack.

It would put the Commons' Carriage Gates entrance – breached by terrorist Khalid Masood last week – behind a new security perimeter extending into Parliament Square.

And it could mean closing the road outside the Commons to all but parliamentary traffic. 

Defence: Armed officers on guard outside Houses of Parliament

Defence: Armed officers on guard outside Houses of Parliament

The proposals – drawn up with expert advice – will have to be agreed with Westminster city council chiefs, due to meet MPs this week to hammer out new security plans for the Palace of Westminster.

Commons insiders admitted that the ambitious new scheme was 'no short-term solution', with more immediate security improvements such as counter-terror bollards now expected. 

They also admit that the scheme may prove too controversial to achieve in full.

A source said: 'Anything involving road closures will be controversial, so we're talking of a long-term project that will take a long time.

The new security perimeter could be extended to Parliament Square, pictured covered in floral tributes following Wednesday's attack

The new security perimeter could be extended to Parliament Square, pictured covered in floral tributes following Wednesday's attack

'But the idea would be to take the current Commons security perimeter out into Parliament Square, beyond the existing road.

'The road would still be there but potentially only MPs and parliamentary staff would use it – and they would have to join it via secure entrances.

'In effect, this would form a sealed air lock just for the Commons use and making a repeat of last week's attack just not possible.'

A Parliamentary spokesman said of security: 'As is good practice following any significant incident, the Houses, in conjunction with the police and other bodies, are carrying out a review of security around this specific incident. 

'A series of exceptional meetings are scheduled for this week including a joint meeting of the House of Commons and House of Lords Commissions where the details of the review are expected to be discussed.' 

VAW: The latest acronym for terror 

Cars can be used as weapons, the Government warns in it latest advice. 

The page on the Gov.uk site, Recognising The Terrorism Threat, which had concentrated on car bombs, was updated on Friday.

It now says: 'A vehicle by itself can also be used… to injure and kill people. This is referred to as a 'vehicle as a weapon' attack. 

The use of VAW has been used by terrorists to target crowded places. A broad range of vehicles can cause significant loss of life.'

London

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