Royal security arrangements change

[Security]

Comprehensive reforms of rules ensuring the safety of the Royal Family are to be ordered, according to press reports. Downing Street has announced that a report into Royal security will be published on Thursday.

The inquiry was launched after a journalist from the Daily Mirror landed a job at Buckingham Palace as a footman ahead of a visit by President Bush.

Recommendations could include a new unit to handle all job applications and tougher vetting procedures.



The Independent Security Commission, chaired by senior judge Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, was requested by Tony Blair when Downing Street had reason to think that a breach of security had occurred.

Journalist Ryan Parry managed to infiltrate the royal household last year, after he had his background checked by the personnel officer at Buckingham Palace.

The palace employee telephoned a pub in north Wales where Mr Parry had once worked.

But when bar staff said they did not recognise his name, the officer relied on a regular who happened to be drinking there at the time who vouched for Mr Parry.

Until now each household has run its own security checks but it has emerged that the inquiry may propose a personnel unit at Buckingham Palace to comprehensively check all references for jobs with the Royal palaces.


From: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3683235.stm