The Diplomatic Protection Group (DPG or SO16, from its Specialist 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. Specialist Operations was a group of twenty specialist Metropolitan Police units which were set up in 1986 as part of Sir Kenneth Newmans restructuring of the Metropolitan Police Service. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) is the Home Office police force responsible for Greater London, with the exception of the square mile of the City of London. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

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

The DPG also provides firearms back up for the Metropolitan Police Service. It consists of officers who are highly trained, experienced and motivated in dealing with all aspects of effective policing. It exists so that the vast majority of policing activities throughout London can be conducted in the traditional manner by unarmed officers. London police car. ... London police car. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ...

The Diplomatic Protection Group originated as A11. This was created in 1974 to replace Special Patrol Group men 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. 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday. ... The Special Patrol Group (SPG) was a controversial unit of the London Metropolitan Police. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The quintessential medieval European palace: Palais de la Cité, in Paris, the royal palace of France. ... The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, in London, England is where the two Houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (the House of Lords and the House of Commons) meet to conduct their business. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The DPG is part of the Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Department, and is commanded by Chief Superintendent Jamie Stephen. The security, as distinct from the ceremonial bodyguards or military protection, of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom and of members of the British Royal Family is entrusted to the Metropolitan Police. ... Chief Superintendent (Ch Supt/CSP; colloquially Chief Super) is a senior rank in the Police Forces. ...

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

The Prime Minister, The Deputy Prime Minister, The Home Secretary, The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, The Secretary of State for Defence, The Chancellor, The Chief of the Defence Staff, The Downing Street Chief of Staff, Baroness Thatcher, Baron Major, The Rt Hon David Cameron MP (for specific events), The Rt Hon Jack McConnell (First Minister of Scotland) and most Foreign embassies in London. The Prime Minister is a novel by Anthony Trollope, the fifth of The Pallisers series. ... The Survivors of the Chancellor: Diary of J. R. Kazallon, Passenger (Le Chancellor: Journal du passager J.-R. Kazallon) is an 1875 novel written by Jules Verne about the final voyage of a British sailing vessel, the Chancellor, told from the perspective of one of its passengers (in the form... Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, PC, FRS (born 13 October 1925) is a British politician and the first woman Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, a position she held from 1979 to 1990. ...

The future

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: 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis (usually just referred to as the Metropolitan Police Commissioner or, more colloquially, as the Met Commissioner) is the head of the Metropolitan Police Service in London. ... Sir Ian Blair, QPM (born 19 March 1953) is the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police in London. ...

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)

See Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Department. ... SO17 or Specialist Operations - Palace of Westminster Division is a branch of Scotland Yard. ... SO18 or Specialist Operations - Airports Policing is a branch of Scotland Yard. ... Special Branch is the arm of the British, Irish and many Commonwealth police forces that deals with national security matters. ... See Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Department. ... SO17 or Specialist Operations - Palace of Westminster Division is a branch of Scotland Yard. ... SO18 or Specialist Operations - Airports Policing is a branch of Scotland Yard. ... Special Branch is the arm of the British, Irish and many Commonwealth police forces that deals with national security matters. ... SO13 or Specialist Operations - Anti-Terrorism Branch is a branch of Scotland Yard. ...

External links

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