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Westminster attack coroner says armed police could have prevented PC's death Westminster attack coroner says armed police might have prevented PC's death
(35 minutes later)
The death of PC Keith Palmer, who was stabbed multiple times at the gates to the Palace of Westminster last year, could have been avoided if there were armed officers near the gate, a coroner has ruled. The death of a police officer during the Westminster Bridge attack could have been prevented had armed police officers been stationed nearby, the inquest heard.
The chief coroner, Mark Lucraft QC, said: “Due to shortcomings in the security system at New Palace Yard, including the supervision of those engaged in such duties, the armed officers were not aware of a requirement to remain in close proximity to the gates. PC Keith Palmer, 48, was one of five victims killed during the terrorist attack that lasted 82 seconds on 22 March 2017. Khalid Masood, 52, killed Kurt Cochran, 54, Leslie Rhodes, 75, Aysha Frade, 44, and Andreea Cristea, 31, when he mowed down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before exiting his car and stabbing Palmer.
“Had they been stationed there, it is possible that they may have been able to prevent PC Palmer suffering fatal injuries.” The death of Palmer, who was stabbed multiple times at the gates to the Palace of Westminster, could have been avoided if there were armed officers at the carriage gates at the Palace of Westminster, the chief coroner, Mark Lucraft QC, concluded.
Lucraft gave his verdict after a month-long inquest into the attack, in which Khalid Masood, 52, killed Kurt Cochran, 54, Leslie Rhodes, 75, Aysha Frade, 44, and Andreea Cristea, 31, when he mowed down pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, before stabbing Palmer. All five of those who died in the attack were “unlawfully killed”, the coroner said. He said: “Due to shortcomings in the security system at New Palace Yard, including the supervision of those engaged in such duties, the armed officers were not aware of a requirement to remain in close proximity to the gates.
Lucraft said that article 2 of the European convention on human rights – protecting the right to life – was engaged in relation to Palmer’s death “Had they been stationed there it is possible that they may have been able to prevent PC Palmer suffering fatal injuries.”
Lucraft said the attack was a deliberate act of terrorism in one of the most iconic areas of London. All the five victims who died in the attack were unlawfully killed, Lucraft said.
He described 22 March 2017 as “a day like most others” in London, with tourists and residents going about their business. But the lives of many on the bridge and the surrounding area were dramatically changed by an attack that lasted just 82 seconds. After the verdict, Palmer’s widow criticised “lax security” at the Palace of Westminster. Michelle Palmer said her husband was left “alone, unarmed, guarding an open gate”. 
Masood had driven his car “with a clear murderous intent”, Lucraft told the inquest. He said the attack was also life-altering for 29 survivors who sustained serious injuries. Lucraft gave his verdict after a month-long inquest into the attack. He added that article 2 of the European convention on human rights – protecting the right to life – was engaged in relation to Palmer’s death. He said he would provide full reasons for that decision in due course.
Lucraft praised the doctors and nurses who rushed from the nearby St Thomas’ hospital to assist the injured, as well as the members of public who helped. But he said some members of the public chose to photograph and film the aftermath of the attack rather than respond. “Sadly some people, for whatever reasons, have posted some material on the internet,” Lucraft said, calling on the material to be removed as it was “distressful” to the families. Article 2 can be engaged if there is evidence to suggest that systemic failures contributed to an individual’s death. It could lead to a broader inquiry into the death that considers state and statutory negligence.
Earlier, Hugo Keith QC, representing the Metropolitan police, argued against claims by Palmer’s family that having armed officers at the carriage gates could have saved his life. He said that even if the armed officers had been at the gates, there was little evidence they would have been in the position to “neutralise” Masood. He described suggestions they would have been able to take a shot as “entirely speculative”. Lucraft said Palmer acted heroically when he confronted Masood during the attack. “It was an extremely brave thing for him to do. It was clear that he was fulfilling his job of protecting the palace and those within it,” he added.
Palmer’s parents and siblings John and Sylvia Curtis, Angela Clark, Michelle Palmer, and John Curtis said: “The inquest has been traumatic and extremely difficult for our family. We welcome the fact that the chief coroner has recognised some of the Met’s failings – and their consequences – but believe he should have gone further. We fought hard to try and get answers to the many questions which have arisen through this process. Unfortunately there are many which are still unanswered.
“We expected the Met to welcome an open and transparent examination of this horrific attack on its own officer and members of the public, yet instead senior officers seem to have closed ranks. What message does this send to ordinary officers bravely reporting for duty every day, to keep us all safe?”
Ken Marsh, the chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said: “The Metropolitan Police Federation has been following the inquest and the evidence given about the tragic events of that day. And we note the verdicts.
“Policing by its very nature is unpredictable and our officers never know what they will be confronted by when they go on duty. They run towards danger when others run away.
“Our colleagues working in Westminster on 22 March 2017 acted with the utmost professionalism in unprecedented circumstances when confronted by unimaginable evil.”
Two armed officers, PC Lee Ashby and PC Nicholas Sanders, were on duty in New Palace Yard at the time of the attack. The inquest previously heard that the two officers had unknowingly disobeyed instructions, which required roving firearms officers to be in close proximity to the gates but not outside them, and not to work in pairs. Instead, the officers were near the members’ entrance to parliament. CCTV footage showed that the last time armed officers were at the gates was at about 1.45pm, almost an hour before Palmer was attacked at 2.41pm.Two armed officers, PC Lee Ashby and PC Nicholas Sanders, were on duty in New Palace Yard at the time of the attack. The inquest previously heard that the two officers had unknowingly disobeyed instructions, which required roving firearms officers to be in close proximity to the gates but not outside them, and not to work in pairs. Instead, the officers were near the members’ entrance to parliament. CCTV footage showed that the last time armed officers were at the gates was at about 1.45pm, almost an hour before Palmer was attacked at 2.41pm.
Counsel to the inquest, Jonathan Hough, rejected Keith’s arguments that article 2 of the European convention on human rights – protecting the right to life – did not apply to the inquest in relation to Palmer’s death. He said there could have been a breach of the state’s general duty to safeguard life because it could be argued there was a failure to establish and maintain adequate security arrangements at the Palace of Westminster. Earlier Hugo Keith QC, representing the Metropolitan police, argued against claims by Palmer’s family that having armed officers at the carriage gates could have saved his life. He said that even if the armed officers had been at the gates, there was little evidence they would have been in the position to “neutralise” Masood. He described suggestions they would have been able to take a shot as “entirely speculative”.
“The carriage gates entrance had been recognised as a particularly vulnerable point,” Hough told the inquest, adding it was a position in need of armed protection. “It cannot be that it is unarguable that there was a means of ensuring that all or at least almost all of the time officers in this critical place were complying with their instruction.” Counsel to the inquest, Jonathan Hough, rejected Keith’s arguments that article 2 of the European convention on human rights did not apply to the inquest in relation to Palmer’s death. He said there could have been a breach of the state’s general duty to safeguard life because it could be argued there was a failure to establish and maintain adequate security arrangements at the Palace of Westminster.
Hough said there was a “real prospect” that had one or more of the armed officers been at the gates, one of them could have taken an “effective shot”. During his conclusion, which lasted more than three hours, Lucraft summarised the main evidence of the inquest and expressed his condolences to the families and praised them for the “great dignity” they had shown throughout the proceedings. He thanked emergency personnel who rushed to assist the injured, as well as the members of public who helped.
The article 2 obligation does not apply to Cochran, Rhodes, Frade or Cristea. But he said some members of the public chose to photograph and film the aftermath of the attack rather than respond. “Sadly, some people, for whatever reasons, have posted some material on the internet,” Lucraft said, calling on the material to be removed as it was “distressful” to the families.
Westminster attackWestminster attack
UK security and counter-terrorismUK security and counter-terrorism
PolicePolice
Metropolitan police
London
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