Prime Minister Cameron Plays Down Security Scare
Daily Mail UK, 27 October 2014
David Cameron has insisted he has confidence in his police bodyguards despite an apparent security breach which saw a jogger collide with him and his protection team.
The Metropolitan Police Service has announced it will carry out a review into the incident, which occurred as the Prime Minister left an event at Leeds Civic Hall.
Dean Farley, who closely resembles the man seen in video footage running into Mr Cameron's team, used his Facebook page to say he was the person involved in the incident.
David Cameron, left, was approached by a man, right, outside Leeds Civic Hall
The Prime Minister appeared unaffected by the events in Leeds as he gave a scheduled statement on Europe in the Commons.
Mr Cameron said: "Could I put on the record for once the debt I owe to the close protection teams that look after me and the very good job that they do."
Making light of the incident, he added: "John Prescott was in the room as I gave the speech so as I left the room, I thought the moment of maximum danger had probably passed.
"But clearly that wasn't the case."
In 2001 Labour former deputy prime minister Lord Prescott punched a protester who egged him.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said Mr Cameron expressed his "gratitude and confidence" in the protection team.
Downing Street will co-operate with the Met's review of the incident, the spokesman added.
Initial reports suggested Mr Cameron had been "shoved" by a protester, but West Yorkshire Police insisted there was "nothing sinister" and it was "just a man in the wrong place at the wrong time".
On Facebook Mr Farley wrote:
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" So I'm all over the news as 'the protester that attacked David Cameron in Leeds'. Yeah if you call brushing into someone while running then getting assaulted by half a dozen coppers in suits attacking."
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The Met's specialist protection command is responsible for the Prime Minister's personal security and Scotland Yard said it would carry out a review of the incident in consultation with West Yorkshire Police.
A Met spokesman said: " The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) is aware of an incident in Leeds today, Monday October 27 , i nvolving a 28-year-old man and the Prime Minister as he left the Civic Hall.
"The man was arrested by local officers and was later de-arrested.
"The MPS specialist protection command is responsible for the personal protection of the Prime Minister and will now conduct a review of the incident in consultation with West Yorkshire Police."
Tory MP Mark Pritchard said lessons should be learned about how Mr Farley was allowed to get so close to the Prime Minister.
He said: "The Met Police have some of the best close protection officers in the world. However, this was a clear breach of security and could have been far more sinister in outcome.
"With the terror threat level increased, this cannot be allowed to happen again. The Met Commissioner should call an immediate and swift internal inquiry to discover why this happened and implement the necessary lessons learned as quickly as possible."
Witness Chris Wilson described how Mr Cameron evaded Mr Farley on the pavement outside the Civic Hall.
He said: "It looked like Cameron sidestepped him. It was a lovely little move. He should be on the stage, really.
"And then he was tackled by the person behind. And then he (Cameron) was in the car and the car was gone.
"They were on him. They were like flies round poo. One minute he was down, then he was up again and moving. It was fast."