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Queen safety police wheel-clamped in Portsmouth | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Two police officers had their vehicles wheel-clamped as they carried out security duties for the Queen's recent visit to Portsmouth. | |
The two unmarked police vehicles were clamped during the surprise royal visit to Gunwharf Quays on Wednesday for lunch aboard a luxury yacht. | |
Hampshire Police said the officers had "not left the vehicles". | |
The alleged clamper, Gareth Andrews, 37, from Fareham, has been charged with obstructing police. | |
Mr Andrews, of Privett Road, is due to appear before South East Hampshire Magistrates' Court on 3 June. | Mr Andrews, of Privett Road, is due to appear before South East Hampshire Magistrates' Court on 3 June. |
Police said the incident had stopped them "conducting their duties". | |
Wheel-clamping firm Shoal Enforcement said the police officers had declined to prove they were on duty when asked, and had subsequently arrested their member of staff. | |
During the Queen's unannounced visit she had lunch on board the 245ft (75m) super yacht Leander, owned by NCP car park millionaire Sir Donald Gosling. | |
Crowd gathered | |
Shoppers were taken by surprise when they heard she was near to the Gunwharf Quays shopping complex, which she visited in 2002 as part of her Golden Jubilee Tour. | |
A crowd gathered to see her leave the yacht and applauded her as she waved back to them. | |
The Queen had arrived in Portsmouth by helicopter, having attended a dinner the evening before hosted by US President Barack Obama at the end of his state visit to the UK. | |
A Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said the incident had prevented "the officers, who were at Gunwharf as part of a security operation, from conducting their duties". | |
"The officers had not left the vehicles at the time they were clamped." | |
A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman said that she could not confirm details of the visit as it was a "private engagement". | |
'No officers in vehicles' | |
Shoal Enforcement said: "A plain-clothes police officer produced his warrant card and requested that both vehicles be released. | |
"Our member of staff confirmed he would release the vehicles if the police officer would provide confirmation that he was on duty. | |
"The police officer declined and arrested our member of staff for obstruction. | |
"There were no officers in the vehicles at any time during the incident and our member of staff was correctly displaying his SIA licence." | |
Mr Andrews was also charged with contravening the Private Security Industry Act for allegedly not displaying the appropriate licensing badge. |