From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Diplomatic Protection Group (DPG or CO6, from its Central Operations designation) is a branch of the London Metropolitan Police which provides protection and support to members of the Diplomatic Community and members of HM Government. The DPG provides protection at 10 Downing Street. It was formerly known as SO16, when part of the Specialist Operations section of the Metropolitan police.

Uniquely in the Metropolitan Police, DPG vehicles are painted red.

CO6 also provides general firearms backup for the Met Police generally. DPG consists of officers who are highly trained, motivated and experienced in all aspects of armed policing operations. It exists so that the vast majority of policing activities throughout London can be conducted in the traditional manner by unarmed officers.

The Diplomatic Protection Group originated as A11. This was created in 1974 to replace Special Patrol Group, officers who were assigned to guard diplomatic and consular missions in London. It became a permanent unit in 1980, and joined the Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Group in 1983. It remains operationally separate, and responsibilities include protecting diplomatic premises and personnel, and protecting visiting Heads of State and high-risk VIPs when they are staying in hotels or other premises. Police are armed and uniformed, and provide static policing, fixed posts, mobile cars, solo motorcycles, and personnel carriers. Protection is also provided for certain political figures, and support for security London royal palaces and the Palace of Westminster. In 2003 it manned 40 fixed posts and guarded 199 diplomatic missions.

The DPG is part of the Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Department, and is commanded by Chief Superintendent Jamie Stephen.

Those currently under protection by the DPG (list not exhaustive) include:-

The Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Home Secretary, the Foreign Secretary, the Defence Secretary, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Chief of the Defence Staff, The Downing Street Chief of Staff, Baroness Thatcher, Sir John Major, Tony Blair, the Rt Hon David Cameron MP (for specific events), the Directors General of SIS, MI5 and GCHQ, Alex Salmond (First Minister of Scotland) and most foreign embassies in London.

CO6 officers are trained on all conventional police firearms, including Glock 17, Heckler and Koch MP5 submachinegun, as well as long arms, baton gun and Police Taser. Officers are tasked to provide fixed post armed protection as well as crewing armed response vehicles complimenting their colleagues in CO19 in the provision of an armed response capability for the majority of London officers that conduct their duties without firearms.

In 2005 the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Ian Blair, announced that Specialist Operations units were to be re-aligned. The plans included forming 3 new departments within Specialist Operations to carry out specific functions:

1. Protecting People, (Splitting the functions of both SO14 & SO16 and merging them with parts of SO17, SO18 and SO12)
2. Protecting Places, (Splitting the functions of both SO14 & SO16 and merging them with parts of SO17 and SO18)
3. Counter Terrorism Command (Merging SO12 & SO13 together)

• Further DPG information on the MET Home Page
• Picture Gallery of DPG Vehicles

This article related to government in the United Kingdom or its constituent countries is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.