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1980 Jan 8 - 1986 Apr 6
Prime Ministerial Private Office files

PREM19/1698
Diplomatic Misions (Armed protection for British government representatives overseas: carriage of arms by bodyguards of VIP visitors)

Source: TNA, PREM19 series
Release date: 2014 Dec 30
Classification: Confidential
Page count: 122
Themes: Monarchy, Parliament, Law & order, British relations with the US, Foreign policy (USA), European Union (general), Foreign policy - theory and process, Security services & intelligence

PREM19/1698 - download whole file (PDF, 22.5 MB)

Selections from this file

Showing items 1 - 14 of 14

Date Value Title
80 Jan 25 Fr Major Security: Cabinet Office briefing for MT (“Armed Protection for British Government Representatives Overseas”) [question of responsibility for provision of the protection] [declassified 2014]
80 Aug 6 We Major Security: No.10 letter to Pym PS (Armed Protection for British Government Representatives Overseas) [MT keen to get around MoD reluctance to supply bodyguards ] [declassified 2014]
80 Aug 12 Tu Major Security: Chancellor of the Exchequer letter to Pym (“Armed Protection for Government Representatives Abroad”) [Howe supports MT case for MoD to provide bodyguards by making savings elsewhere] [declassified 2014]
80 Aug 13 We Major Security: Pym PS letter to No.10 (“The Protection of Government Representatives Overseas”) [MoD argues that its problem is primarily lack of manpower rather than finance] [declassified 2014]
81 Dec 1 Tu Major Security: FCO internal minute: Antony Acland to Vice-Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps (“Protection of British VIPs on visits abroad”) [weeding out potential areas of confusion over divisions of responsibility] [declassified 2014]
84 Jun 15 Fr Major Security: Brittan PS letter to Howe PS (“Firearms for Protection Officers”) [diplomatic incidents] [declassified 2014]
84 Jul 30 Mo Major Security: No.10 letter to Heseltine PS (“Royal Military Police: Conference and Visits at Home and Overseas”) [MT agrees it is “essential to retain the very valuable services of the Royal Military Police for these tasks”] [declassified 2014]
84 Aug 7 Tu Major Security: Heseltine PS minute to Howe PS (“Royal Military Police: Conference and Visits at Home and Overseas”) [RMP will not be excluded from study on proposed transferral of personnel to the front line] [declassified 2014]
84 Sep 4 Tu Major Security: Howe minute to MT (“VIP Visitors: Carriage of Arms by Body Guards”) [MT agrees to meeting to discuss clarifying policy] [declassified 2014]
84 Sep 12 We Major Security: No.10 record of conversation (MT, Howe, Brittan) [“VIP Visitors: Carriage of Arms by Bodyguards”] [declassified 2014]
84 Oct 18 Th Major Security: No.10 minute to MT (“VIP Visitors: Carriage of Arms by Bodyguards”) [recommendations in advance of visit by President Mitterrand] [declassified 2014]
85 Mar 11 Mo Major Security: Sir Percy Cradock minute to No.10 (“Attempted assassination of Air Marshall Hine”) [German authorities investigate possible act of terrorism] [declassified 2014]
85 Apr 15 Mo Major Security: Howe minute to MT (“Review of Vienna Convention and Reply to Foreign Affairs Committee Report on Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges: Command Paper”) [repercussions of Libyan Embassy siege] [declassified 2014]
86 Apr 4 Fr Major Security: Cabinet Office minute to MT (“VIP Visitors: Carriage of Arms by Bodyguards”) [revision to guidelines] [declassified 2014]