Posted on 09/14/2004 2:22:55 AM PDT by MadIvan
A protester dressed as Batman breached security at Buckingham Palace yesterday by scaling the perimeter wall and staging a demonstration on a ledge next to the main balcony.
Despite two security reviews in the past year, Jason Hatch, 33, a member of the pressure group Fathers 4 Justice, managed to evade police and armed guards and climb on to the building.
Jason Hatch climbs the ladder up on to the palace annexe |
Hatch, who was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage, was examined at St Thomas's Hospital. He told police he had an existing, unrelated head injury.
David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, told MPs last night that the incident showed that an alarm system installed at the palace after the September 11 attacks did work.
While Hatch had breached security, police both inside and outside the building took "immediate steps to protect the palace".
The building had been quickly secured and an armed officer at the scene decided that Hatch was a protester rather than a terrorist.
The stunt came on the day another member of the Fathers 4 Justice group was in court facing public order charges over an incident earlier this year when a condom filled with purple flour was thrown at the Prime Minister in the Commons.
Hatch edges his way round towards the main balcony |
"It's not good enough and we want to know how this happened."
Sir John said police would have shot Hatch had they thought he had a bomb. Police and palace officials launched separate inquiries.
The Met was criticised last year when Aaron Barschak, describing himself as a "comedy terrorist", gatecrashed Prince William's 21st birthday party at Windsor Castle wearing a dress and beard.
Questions about vetting procedures were raised when a Daily Mirror reporter obtained a job as a footman at Buckingham Palace. An inquiry by the Security Commission led to the appointment of Brig Gen Jeffrey Cook as new royal security chief.
Unmasked Hatch is led away by police ending his protest |
Hatch, a painter and decorator from Gloucester, used a ladder to scale the palace railings where they meet a palace annexe close to the road.
He then clambered along ledges on the outside of the building to reach the balcony in front of the palace, where he unfurled a banner which read: "Super dads of Fathers 4 Justice" and "Fighting for your right to see your kids".
Another member, David Pyke, 48, who was dressed as Batman's sidekick Robin, also tried to scale the perimeter fence but came down when police threatened to shoot him. He was arrested later.
A third man, who was seen holding the ladder for Hatch and Pyke, ran away, police said.
John O'Connor, a former Scotland Yard Flying Squad commander, said the breach was an "absolute disgrace".
He added: "They are more concerned about the Changing of the Guard and all the ceremonies than taking security seriously."
Hatch separated from his wife Victoria in 2001 and was granted access to his children for two hours every three weeks by a judge.
But Hatch, a national co-ordinator of Fathers 4 Justice, claims he has only seen his son, aged five, and daughter, four, for a total of six hours in the past three years.
Matt O'Connor, the founder of Fathers 4 Justice, said the stunt was planned at the weekend in a pub in Shropshire. "It just shows how unbelievably lax security is at the palace," he added. "I'm so glad Hatch made it. David, unfortunately, bottled it when the police threatened to shoot him. You can't really blame him for that."
David Davis, the Tory home affairs spokesman, questioned the police's assessment of the Batman threat.
"How can anyone ever be sure these incidents are pranks and not terrorists masquerading as pranksters?" he said.
"This advertises weaknesses in our security and this long series of security failures could encourage terrorist attacks."
Sorry, I am chuckling a little bit about this - plus one has to somewhat wonder at someone who is willing to get shot dead in a Batman costume for a cause.
Regards, Ivan
Ping!
at least he picked a cool superhero
He could have picked Wonder Woman (LOL)
We knew it was a prank. If we thought he was a threat we would have shot him.
I hope that sends a message and that it's true.
Evidently Batman had a partner, Robin, who was immediately arrested so I guess security had a pretty good idea this was not a threat.
This is the true face of the England we love: right on, eccentric and politically incorrect!
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