Hundreds of crimes have been reported in royal palaces over the past three years, including crimes involving weapons, drugs, violence and robbery.
A total of 470 crimes were reported at Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, St. James’s Palace and Clarence House – inside or outside the territory – between 2019 and 2021, metropolitan police said.
These include hundreds of thefts, including reports of arson and criminal damage, burglary, robbery, gun ownership and violence against the person.
Less than 1% of crimes have led to charges, warnings or fines, and suspects have not been identified for more than 400 crimes, according to data released under the Freedom of Information Act.
This comes after Prince Harry expressed security concerns about the transfer of his family from the United States to the United Kingdom, saying he was “not safe” on a visit and offering to pay for police protection.
Image: The Duke of Sussex now lives in California with Megan and their two children. Photo: AP
Davis Davis, a former head of the Royal Defense in Scotland Yard, said the number of crimes was “astonishing” and “scary”.
The former chief superintendent told Sky News: “If you can steal or cause incidents in or near royalty, what does that say about current security?
“If these crimes affect the personal safety of royalty, that would worry me.
What does the data show?
Sky News has sent a request for freedom of information to the Met Police, asking for details of the crimes reported at these four royal residences in London since 2019.
The forces refused to provide some information for reasons of “national security” and “law enforcement”, including which crimes were reported at each location and whether the crimes were committed inside or outside the territory.
Image: A police officer patrols Buckingham Palace
A total of 383 crimes were registered in 2019, before a sharp drop in crime during the coronavirus pandemic, with 64 crimes reported in 2020 and 23 in 2021.
Among the crimes were:
• Theft – 380
• Possession of weapons – 25 pcs
• Drug crimes – 17
• Arson and criminal damage – 15
• Violence against the person – 15
• Violations of public order – 8 pcs
• Robbery – 7
• Burglary – 1
• Violations of motor vehicles – 1
• Various crimes against society – 1
Image: Police car in front of Buckingham Palace
Of the 470 crimes registered, only nine resulted in charges or subpoenas. A warning was issued, along with a fine for disorder.
For 404 crimes, no suspects have been identified, while 34 crimes have evidentiary difficulties and five cases are not in the public interest.
Sixteen crimes have been dealt with by community decisions, which are used for low-level crimes and may include a simple apology, an offer of compensation or a promise to make amends for any criminal damage.
An employee of Buckingham Palace is in jail for theft
A member of Buckingham Palace catering was jailed last year after stealing medals and official photos of the royal family from the queen’s residence.
Adamo Canto was sentenced to eight months in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of theft between November 2019 and August 2020.
Image: Adamo Canto was in prison after confessing to stealing medals and official photos of the royal family
Some of the goods worth between 10,000 and 100,000 British pounds have been put up for sale on eBay, the court heard.
In February, a man who climbed the fence of Buckingham Palace was spared from prison by a judge who told him he was lucky he had not been killed by police.
Cameron Callani entered the Royal Mews – home to the royal family’s horses – in the early hours of May 10 last year.
Image: Cameron Callani in the photo leaves the Westminster Magistrates’ Court
The 44-year-old, who was caught with a 20-centimeter kitchen knife and cocaine in his bag when he was arrested, received a 24-week suspended sentence of one year.
Deputy District Judge Roy Brown told Callaney: “It’s just luck and luck that neither you nor anyone else was seriously injured or killed in the course of your adventure.
A US tourist, meanwhile, was fined £ 200 in February after admitting to violating Buckingham Palace.
Image: Joseph Huang Kang before the Westminster Magistrates’ Court
Joseph Huang Kang jumped the fence at Royal Mews last December, ignoring the staff who challenged him and fled before he was found in the restrooms.
A 24-year-old man from Houston, Texas, pleaded guilty to invading a protected site.
What does Met Police say?
Met Police said it was “responsible for security in and around the royal palaces, but we will not comment on security issues.”
A spokesman for the force told Sky News: “As in other crowded places, most crimes committed in or near palaces are thefts.
“Officers will always strive to follow all viable and proportionate lines of investigation.”
Image: Kensington Palace in London
The forces also defended their decision not to disclose which crimes were registered at each royal residence or whether the crimes were committed inside or outside the territory.
In his response to freedom of information, a spokesman said: “Disclosure of the requested information would allow interested criminal parties to gain an advantage and raise awareness of police decisions used to protect national security.
“All royal residences are considered objects of national interest. Any possible threat … would be considered a threat to the fundamental institution of the UK’s constitutional provisions and therefore a threat to national security.
“Although there is a public interest in the transparency of the use of police resources and their effectiveness against the threat posed to the royal family and royal residences… there is a very strong public interest in protection.
Buckingham Palace declined to comment when they approached Sky News.
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