Reduced police presence at major royal ceremonies raises safety concerns
Security concerns have been raised after the Metropolitan Police decided to reduce its presence at major royal and military events.
According to The Telegraph, budget cuts will mean fewer officers at ceremonies including Trooping the Colour, the monarch’s annual public birthday celebration, held in London each June.
The Metropolitan Police said its priority was to keep officers on the front line, arresting criminals and protecting the city.
The force said financial pressures and growing demand had forced it to make difficult decisions. It added that it had spent recent months discussing changes to its support for military ceremonies with the Ministry of Defence.
Over the past year, police deployments at military ceremonies totalled 17,800 officers, at an estimated cost of $14 million. A private contractor will now take on the responsibility.
However, an army source raised concerns about the change, saying private security might not give soldiers and the public the same confidence in their safety when facing potential threats.
