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Diplomatic Protection Group vehicles are red, to signify their unique policing role.

The Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Department (RDPD) is a Specialist Operations branch of Londons Metropolitan Police Service. The department has three branches, each specialising in a form of security. Although the departments responsibilities are broad, the most common are the protection of official premises such as Buckingham Palace, and Westminster Palace, along with the protection of government officials.

The department currently maintains three branches:

The security that each branch provides is unique, in the sense that in the United Kingdom protection of government officials and affiliated premises falls under the responsibility of the police, and not of the armed forces, as seen in other countries. Due to the people and buildings the department is responsible for, officers actively guarding are armed.

History of the RDPD

The original form of protection of such buildings in London, fell under the responsibility of the Royalty Protection Division which was created in 1982. Which also absorbed the Royalty Protection Squad, itself created in the late 1970s. Before such a unit was devised policing of Buckingham Palace fell under the responsibility of the divisional police that the palace was allocated. In the early 1980s the officers responsible for the guarding of other royal residences in London, such as Kensington Palace, St James's Palace, Clarence House and police responsible for Windsor Castle were absorbed, along with the Royalty Protection Officers.

The head of this part of the Department is the Queen's Police Officer, whom is the senior Personal Protection Officer to the Prince of Wales, holds the rank of Superintendent, while most Personal Protection Officers are Sergeants or Inspectors. The Royalty Protection Squad, a branch in "A" Department, was based at Cannon Row police station under the Queen's Police Officer. It was responsible for the protection of The Queen at public functions and while in residence at Buckingham Palace, and all times when she was outside the Palace.

The Queen's Police Officer also supervised the personal protection of all members of the Royal Family, despite Royalty Protection Officers not falling under the remit of the squad, however, The Queen's Police Officer was responsible for the organisation of the guarding the interior of the Palace and its grounds.

The Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Department, as it is known today, was formed on 1 September 1983 as a result of the mergeing of the Royalty Protection Department and the Diplomatic Protection Group (DPG). Initially in A Department, since 1985 it has been in the Specialist Operations Department. It was organised into the Royalty Protection Division (SO14), Royal Palaces Division (SO15), and Diplomatic Protection Group (SO16). It assumed responsibility for the security of the Palace of Westminster, where Parliament sits, in 1991.

This is now policed by the Palace of Westminster Division (SO17). SO15 joined SO14 in 1995, and the Department is now divided into SO14 responsible for static armed protection, SO14 for armed personal protection in the form of "Bodyguarding", and the Special Escort Group (SEG).

Notable former heads of department

From March 2007, the head of the Department is Deputy Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick, who was promoted surrounded by controversy, surrounding the events of the Shooting of Jean Charles De Menzes. Her promotion was confirmed officially by the Metropolitan Police Authority's Chairman, Len Duvall, on February 19, 2007.

The current head of the Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Department is Commander the Earl of Rosslyn (known professionally as "Peter Loughborough"), who was appointed in 2003 and is the only peer in the United Kingdom who is a serving policeman.

The current head of Royalty Protection (SO14) is Chief Superintendent Stephen Grainger. Stephens predecessor was James Beaton , GC CVO, who held office 1983-92. He received the George Cross for protecting Princess Anne against an assassination attempt in 1974.

The Palace of Holyroodhouse and Balmoral Castle in Scotland are the responsibility of the Department when they are in royal use, and the Department also liaises closely with the Chief Constables responsible for the force are of royal residences outside London.

Vehicle Fleet & Equipment

The most used, best known vehicles are the BMW 530iD. The vehicles are red, to signify that they do not carry out routine policing work. The motorcycle fleet consists of MPS Traffic Officers who are senconded to the department when needed for escort duties, the motorcycles used are commonly the ST2000 Honda.

Due to the front line officers guarding high risk premises and people, they are rountinely armed:

German Heckler & Koch MP5 (Semi-Automatic carbine)
Austrian Glock 17 (Pistol)
American XP26 Taser
German Heckler & Koch 69, Baton Gun (Fires Rubber bullet)

Earlier Royal and Diplomatic protection

The Queen's Police Officer was the descendant of the police first appointed for royal security in 1792. In that year Bow Street Runners detective force was appointed by the Magistrates of Bow Street court, were assigned to provide plain-clothes protection. In 1838 they were replaced by an Inspector of Police of the newly created Metropolitan Police, who was the direct ancestor of the Royalty Protection Squad. Special Branch took over some aspects of the role in 1883, but was largely superseded before the Second World War.

The Public Order Branch (A8) was formerly also responsible for royal security, particularly during ceremonial events, as was the Special Patrol Group (A9).

Former head of department

Commander the Rt Hon the Earl of Rosslyn 2003-
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Alan Fry, QPM 1995-
Deputy Assistant Commissioner David Meynell, CVO OBE 1992-1995
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Charles Rideout, CVO QPM 1990-1992
Deputy Assistant Commissioner John Cracknell, CVO QPM 1984-1990
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Colin Smith, CVO CBE QPM 1983-1984

External links

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[Image:dpg2.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Diplomatic Protection Group vehicles are red, to signify their unique policing role.]]
-The '''Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Department''' ('''RDPD''') is a [[Specialist Operations]] branch of [[London]]'s [[Metropolitan Police Service]]. The department has three branches, each specialising in a form of security. Although the departments responsibilities are broad, the most common are the protection of official premises such as [[Buckingham Palace]] and [[Palace of Westminster|Westminster Palace]], along with the protection of government officials.
+The '''Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Department''' ('''RDPD''') is a [[Specialist Operations]] branch of [[London]]s [[Metropolitan Police Service]]. The department has three branches, each specialising in a form of security. Although the departments responsibilities are broad, the most common are the protection of official premises such as [[Buckingham Palace]], and [[Palace of Westminster|Westminster Palace]], along with the protection of government officials.
 The department currently maintains three branches:
@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 ==History of the RDPD==
-Protection of royal and diplomatic buildings in London was originally the responsibility of the Royalty Protection Division which was created in [[1982]]. Which also absorbed the Royalty Protection Squad, itself created in the late 1970s. Before such a unit was devised policing of Buckingham Palace fell under the responsibility of the divisional police that the palace was allocated. In the early 1980s the officers responsible for the guarding of other royal residences in London, such as [[Kensington Palace]], [[St James's Palace]], [[Clarence House]] and police responsible for [[Windsor Castle]] were absorbed, along with the Royalty Protection Officers.
+The original form of protection of such buildings in London, fell under the responsibility of the Royalty Protection Division which was created in [[1982]]. Which also absorbed the Royalty Protection Squad, itself created in the late 1970s. Before such a unit was devised policing of Buckingham Palace fell under the responsibility of the divisional police that the palace was allocated. In the early 1980s the officers responsible for the guarding of other royal residences in London, such as [[Kensington Palace]], [[St James's Palace]], [[Clarence House]] and police responsible for [[Windsor Castle]] were absorbed, along with the Royalty Protection Officers.
-The head of this part of the Department is the [[Queen's Police Officer]], who is the senior [[Personal Protection Officer]] to the [[Prince of Wales]], holds the rank of [[Superintendent (police)|Superintendent]], while most Personal Protection Officers are [[Sergeant]]s or [[Inspector]]s. The Royalty Protection Squad, a branch in "A" Department, was based at Cannon Row [[police station]] under the Queen's Police Officer. It was responsible for the protection of the Queen while in residence at [[Buckingham Palace]], and all times when she was outside the Palace.
+The head of this part of the Department is the [[Queen's Police Officer]], whom is the senior [[Personal Protection Officer]] to the [[Prince of Wales]], holds the rank of [[Superintendent (police)|Superintendent]], while most Personal Protection Officers are [[Sergeant]]s or [[Inspector]]s. The Royalty Protection Squad, a branch in "A" Department, was based at Cannon Row [[police station]] under the Queen's Police Officer. It was responsible for the protection of The Queen at public functions and while in residence at [[Buckingham Palace]], and all times when she was outside the Palace.
-The Queen's Police Officer also supervised the personal protection of all members of the Royal Family, despite Royalty Protection Officers not falling under the remit of the squad, however, The Queen's Police Officer was responsible for the organisation of the guarding the interior of the Palace and its grounds.{{unclear}}
+The Queen's Police Officer also supervised the personal protection of all members of the Royal Family, despite Royalty Protection Officers not falling under the remit of the squad, however, The Queen's Police Officer was responsible for the organisation of the guarding the interior of the Palace and its grounds.
-The Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Department, as it is known today, was formed on [[1 September]] [[1983]] as a result of the merging of the Royalty Protection Department and the [[Diplomatic Protection Group]] (DPG). Initially in A Department, since [[1985]] it has been in the Specialist Operations Department. It was organised into the Royalty Protection Division (SO14), Royal Palaces Division (SO15), and Diplomatic Protection Group (SO16). It assumed responsibility for the security of the [[Palace of Westminster]], where [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]] sits, in [[1991]].
+The Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Department, as it is known today, was formed on [[1 September]] [[1983]] as a result of the mergeing of the Royalty Protection Department and the [[Diplomatic Protection Group]] (DPG). Initially in A Department, since [[1985]] it has been in the Specialist Operations Department. It was organised into the Royalty Protection Division (SO14), Royal Palaces Division (SO15), and Diplomatic Protection Group (SO16). It assumed responsibility for the security of the [[Palace of Westminster]], where [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]] sits, in [[1991]].
 This is now policed by the [[Palace of Westminster Division]] (SO17). SO15 joined SO14 in [[1995]], and the Department is now divided into SO14 responsible for static armed protection, SO14 for armed personal protection in the form of "Bodyguarding", and the [[Special Escort Group (Metropolitan Police)|Special Escort Group]] (SEG).
@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 == Notable former heads of department ==
-From March 2007, the head of the Department has been [[Deputy Assistant Commissioner]] [[Cressida Dick]], whose promotion was surrounded by controversy over the events of the [[shooting of Jean Charles De Menezes in July 2005|shooting of Jean Charles De Menzes]]. Her promotion was confirmed officially by the [[Metropolitan Police Authority]]'s chairman, [[Len Duvall]], on [[February 19]], [[2007]].
+From March 2007, the head of the Department is [[Deputy Assistant Commissioner]] [[Cressida Dick]], who was promoted surrounded by controversy, surrounding the events of the [[shooting of Jean Charles De Menezes in July 2005|Shooting of Jean Charles De Menzes]]. Her promotion was confirmed officially by the [[Metropolitan Police Authority]]'s Chairman, [[Len Duvall]], on [[February 19]], [[2007]].
 The current head of the Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Department is [[Commander#British_police_rank|Commander]] the [[Peter St Clair-Erskine, 7th Earl of Rosslyn|Earl of Rosslyn]] (known professionally as "Peter Loughborough"), who was appointed in [[2003]] and is the only peer in the [[United Kingdom]] who is a serving policeman.
-The current head of Royalty Protection (SO14) is [[Chief Superintendent]] Stephen Grainger. Grainger's predecessor was [[Chief Superintendent James Beaton|James Beaton]], [[George Cross|GC]] [[Royal Victorian Order|CVO]], who held office from 1983 to 1992. He received the [[George Cross]] for protecting [[Anne, Princess Royal|Princess Anne]] from an assassination attempt in [[1974]].
+The current head of Royalty Protection (SO14) is [[Chief Superintendent]] Stephen Grainger. Stephens predecessor was [[Chief Superintendent James Beaton|James Beaton ]], [[George Cross|GC]] [[Royal Victorian Order|CVO]], who held office 1983-92. He received the [[George Cross]] for protecting [[Anne, Princess Royal|Princess Anne]] against an assassination attempt in [[1974]].
 The Palace of [[Palace of Holyrood|Holyroodhouse]] and [[Balmoral Castle]] in [[Scotland]] are the responsibility of the Department when they are in royal use, and the Department also liaises closely with the [[Chief Constable]]s responsible for the force are of royal residences outside London.
-== Vehicle fleet and equipment ==
+== Vehicle Fleet & Equipment ==
-The most used and best known vehicles of the department are the [[Bavarian Motor Works|BMW]] 530iD. The vehicles are red, to signify that they do not carry out routine policing work. The motorcycle fleet consists of [[Traffic Operational Command Unit|MPS Traffic Officers]] who are seconded to the department when needed for escort duties, the motorcycles used are commonly the ST2000 Honda.
+The most used, best known vehicles are the [[Bavarian Motor Works|BMW]] 530iD. The vehicles are red, to signify that they do not carry out routine policing work. The motorcycle fleet consists of [[Traffic Operational Command Unit|MPS Traffic Officers]] who are senconded to the department when needed for escort duties, the motorcycles used are commonly the ST2000 Honda.
-Due to the front line officers guarding high risk premises and people, they are routinely armed:
+Due to the front line officers guarding high risk premises and people, they are rountinely armed:
 * [[Germany|German]] [[Heckler & Koch MP5]] (Semi-Automatic carbine)
@@ Line 44: / Line 44: @@
 * German [[Riot gun|Heckler & Koch 69, Baton Gun]] (Fires [[Rubber bullet]])
-==Earlier royal and diplomatic protection==
+==Earlier Royal and Diplomatic protection==
-The Queen's Police Officer was the descendant of the police first appointed for royal security in [[1792]]. In that year, the [[Bow Street Runners]] detective force was appointed by the Magistrates of Bow Street court, and were assigned to provide plain-clothes protection. In [[1838]] they were replaced by an Inspector of Police of the newly created [[Metropolitan Police]], who was the direct ancestor of the Royalty Protection Squad. [[Special Branch]] took over some aspects of the role in [[1883]], but was largely superseded before the Second World War.
+The Queen's Police Officer was the descendant of the police first appointed for royal security in [[1792]]. In that year [[Bow Street Runners]] detective force was appointed by the Magistrates of Bow Street court, were assigned to provide plain-clothes protection. In [[1838]] they were replaced by an Inspector of Police of the newly created [[Metropolitan Police]], who was the direct ancestor of the Royalty Protection Squad. [[Special Branch]] took over some aspects of the role in [[1883]], but was largely superseded before the Second World War.
 The Public Order Branch (A8) was formerly also responsible for royal security, particularly during ceremonial events, as was the [[Special Patrol Group]] (A9).
-== Former heads of department ==
+== Former head of department ==
 *[[Commander]] the Rt Hon the [[Peter St Clair-Erskine, 7th Earl of Rosslyn|Earl of Rosslyn]] 2003-