HOLYROOD BREAK-IN EXPOSES SECURITY SHAMBLES

Intruder dodged anti-terror defences

AN intruder broke into the Scottish parliament – exposing major flaws in Holyrood’s multi-million pound security system.

Although the building is fitted with state-of-the-art technology, including metal detectors, anti-terror defences and biometric scanners, a man was able to scramble over a wall and simply walk in unchallenged, apparently through an unlocked door. Having dodged security, he wandered into the innermost parts of the building – including the tower where Ministers have their offices and store confidential documents.

Security staff eventually spotted the intruder on CCTV and called police. The extraordinary breach took place earlier

this year – but it has never been publicly acknowledged.

However, The Scottish Mail on Sunday can now reveal details of the break-in, which sparked serious concern among Ministers, MSPs and parliamentary officials.

One Holyrood source said: ‘It’s very embarrassing. All this money was spent on security and this guy just climbed the fence and walked in. This would never be able to happen at Westminster.’

The Scottish parliament has invested millions in trying to safeguard the building over the years.

It spent £90 million on bombproofing the interior and exterior of the building, and then a further £1.25 million erecting bollards and benches to stop a vehicle crashing into it.

A £5 million security pavilion was also created for the public to enter. Most recently, an additional £2 million was spent on a biometric pass system.

The break-in took place late at night in January, when there were no Ministers, MSPs or staff working. The man scaled a fence at the bottom of the Royal Mile and walked into the building through a door, which is believed to have been left unlocked.

A source close to the investigation said: ‘He climbed a fence and managed to get into the building through an unsecured door.

‘He then started to walk around various areas of the parliament.

‘The alarm was triggered and security guards confronted him. Police were called in and he was arrested. When police got the call, several teams were sent to the scene, as a breach at the parliament is potentially very serious.

‘It was obviously necessary to establish who he was and what his motive was, and who he was connected to. Although he breached security, all the main rooms and the chamber were locked.’

The break-in was later raised at a meeting of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB), the cross-party group of MSPs responsible for parliamentary business. Although no details have been published, minutes of a meeting held on January 21 said: ‘The SPCB noted an update on security matters. The SPCB also considered a review of security measures and services introduced for MSPs and their staff.’

The break-in strengthened the case for tougher laws on protests in the grounds of Holyrood, bringing the Scottish parliament into line with Westminster.

Although many critics warned that a crackdown would weaken the democratic right to stage protests, new rules were introduced from the beginning of this month which officially designate the Scottish parliament as a ‘protected site’, meaning that being in the Holyrood building or grounds ‘without lawful authority’ is now punishable by a £5,000 fine or a year in jail.

The move means that security staff have robust powers to remove anyone who enters the parliament or chamber, climbs on the roof, or camps in the grounds.

The change was introduced after a series of protests at the parliament – including independence campaigners camping in the grounds and climate change protesters invading the debating chamber and gaining access to the roof of the building.

Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone announced the changes last month. In a message to MSPs, she wrote: ‘As we have seen many times recently, maintaining a functioning parliament to deliver and oversee the response to the current pandemic has clearly been in the national interest.

‘We are also operating in the context of an increasing level of disruptive activity, including protests on our roof requiring specialist policing and emergency services response, and unauthorised occupation of the debating chamber.

‘Actions such as these have the potential to disrupt the parliament’s ability to meet.’

A Scottish parliament spokesman yesterday refused to discuss the

‘Breach at parliament potentially very serious’

‘Would never be able to happen at Westminster’

break-in because of forthcoming legal proceedings.

A man is due to appear in court later this month in connection with the incident.

Parliament chiefs have been considering how to better protect Holyrood ever since they struggled to evict an ‘indy camp’.

Pro-independence campers remained in the grounds for 11 months throughout 2016 and the battle to end their stay eventually reached the Court of Session.

After winning the case, the SPCB had hoped to recoup £100,000 in costs from the campers, but it was eventually forced to write off the debt.