Westminster attack inquests - as they happened: Widow of officer killed by terrorist says police 'left him to die' unarmed on Parliament gates
Coroner to draw up 'prevention of future deaths' report with recommendations for police
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“Shortcomings in security” outside the Houses of Parliament contributed to the death of a police officer during the Westminster attack, a coroner has concluded.
Judge Mark Lucraft QC, the Chief Coroner of England and Wales, said the Metropolitan Police had allowed the entrance PC Keith Palmer was guarding to be neglected by “roving” armed officers.
PC Palmer's widow said he was "left to die", adding: "How could Keith have been left alone, unarmed, guarding an open gate at one of the most iconic buildings in the world and one of the country’s top terrorist targets?”
Judge Lucraft is to draw up a “prevention of future deaths report” that will contain recommendations for the Metropolitan Police and parliamentary security officials.
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Masood, 52, drove into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge on March 22 last year, killing American tourist Kurt Cochran, 54, retired window cleaner Leslie Rhodes, 75, Aysha Frade, 44, and Romanian tourist Andreea Cristea, 31.
Their relatives expressed hope that "lessons had been learned" from the gruelling three-week inquests.
Delivering his conclusions at the Old Bailey, Judge Lucraft said the two armed officers assigned to the area had not been near Carriage Gates for almost an hour before Khalid Masood struck because they were unaware of official guidance.
“They had been some distance away and out of view of the entrance because they had understood their duty to involve a roving patrol around the yard,” Judge Lucraft 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.
“Had they been stationed there, it is possible that they may have been able to prevent PC Palmer suffering fatal injuries.”
PC Palmer's widow said her husband had been “left to die” by security failings and accused authorities of letting “lax security” continue at the Houses of Parliament for years.
In his closing argument, Gareth Patterson QC, for families of victims on the bridge, urged the coroner to make a report on the circumstances of the case to “protect the public”.
On the role of MI5, whose knowledge of Masood has been heavily scrutinised, he said: “We do think there is room for improvement in terms of decision-making.”
He suggested security services should look again at when to investigate suspects and when to stop, and to take account of violent backgrounds.
Mr Patterson also called for the Government to “try again” with tightening rules for hiring cars.
Dominic Adamson, representing PC Palmer's widow Michelle, said that there was “a systematic failure” in protecting unarmed officers on guard at the Palace of Westminster.
He said he was not told to and had not accessed a computer system on patrols since 2015.
A diplomatic protection officer also did not believe there was an obligation to be near Carriage Gates.
PC Sanders was aware of the system and knew he was under an obligation to access it, but had not used it in relation to duties at the Palace of Westminster because his instrutions were "entirely clear".
Judge Lucraft says instructions were for officers to remain at Carriage Gates with only a "short patrol" into New Palace Yard but the officers on duty did not believe that was their instruction.
CCTV shows them on patrol after 2pm but not near Carriage Gates, spending some time in the collonades because of "high profile individuals" in that area
The two armed officers moved towards the crash after hearing it and took cover before hearing shots fired.
By the time they saw Masood he had been shot. They found him and PC Palmer on the ground. CCTV shows them moving at a "walking pace", which one of the officers said was because they were carrying out a continuous assessment.
PC Sanders said that he would have taken a shot at Masood if positioned at the gate but only in "cerain circumstances"
Judge Lucraft says Commander Adrian Usher, who leads policing at the Houses of Parliament, says gates have since been updated
A January 2015 review stated that armed officers were to be stationed in "close proximity" to Carriage Gates when they were open and a second review in June that year recognised the gates as one of the weakest points in the Parliamentary perimeter
Conclusions in December said officers should work within sight of each other
Command Usher accepted that the 2014 placements included patrols on both sides of Palace Yard and another report that specifically raised the risk of officers being "rushed" at the gates.
A 2013 report noted the pedestrian entrance was vulnerable and recommended armed officers outside, then a 2015 report specifically identified a risk to officers at Carriage Gates
An email chain identified issues with patrols
The 2015 report also raised the prospect for arming officers with Tasers but the Metropolitan Police said training was "not possible"
Commander Usher said officers were told to access the ADAM system "regularly" but accepted there was no definition of how often that was
Commander Usher met with the two armed officers on duty that day and then reported them to the Department for Professional Standards for review. The DPS found they were patrolling in the wrong place but that their beliefs reflected those of the majority of AFOs, who were shown to rarely use the ADAM system by a survey