Concerns raised about checks on parliamentary police

Labour has raised "grave concerns" about vetting procedures for police patrolling Parliament, in a letter to security officials.

Shadow Commons Leader, Thangam Debbonaire says "many concerned colleagues" have contacted her about women's safety.

Sarah Everard's killer, Wayne Couzens, took protection duties at Parliament.

And in a separate case, another officer who was based there, David Carrick, has been charged with rape.

Ms Debbonaire's intervention follows a request on Sunday by the Commons Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, for an urgent meeting with the Met Police about Couzens.

Sir Lindsay said he was "extremely concerned" that Couzens had been deemed suitable for employment at Parliament.

The Met Police had previously said Couzens moved to the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command in February 2020 where his primary role was to patrol diplomatic premises, mainly embassies.

But a spokesman for the force said on Saturday that he was deployed to armed static protection duties on the estate on five occasions from February to July 2020.

It has now emerged that a second officer, who was also based with the specialist protection unit, has been remanded in custody after appearing in court on Monday on an allegation of rape.

PC David Carrick, 46, denied attacking a woman after the pair went for drinks in St Albans.

In her letter to Alison Giles, Director of Security for Parliament, Ms Debbonaire asked for reassurances about the checks carried out by the police and parliament.

She said colleagues want details about "how this happened in the first place".

She also asked for an explanation of "measures that I know you will be urgently taking to rectify this and to safeguard all - but especially women - on the estate, and to ensure that those who are permitted to work on the estate are vetted to the highest possible standard".