Home Secretary James Cleverly backed an armed police officer who told tourists to stop “taking the p***” out of a King’s Guard on duty in London.
The soldier was on ceremonial duty at the Horse Guards building off Whitehall when a group of young tourists appeared to start “heckling” him.
An armed Met Police officer intervened, stressing that the Guard was “protecting” the area and should not be derided as an “object of ridicule”.
He had an “exhausting” day ahead of him, and so it was not “appreciated” that tourists were making fun of him.
The police officer told the group to leave the area.
Mr Cleverly swiftly backed the intervention, tweeting: “Well said.”
Well said. https://t.co/NwmTP4cUNj
— James Cleverly🇬🇧 (@JamesCleverly) March 14, 2024
Veterans affairs minister Johnny Mercer also backed the police officer’s actions, tweeting: “Spot on.”
Spot on. https://t.co/iqduMDnp2O
— Rt Hon Johnny Mercer (@JohnnyMercerUK) March 14, 2024
Soldiers on guard duties often have to deal with approaches from members of the public and show remarkable patience in not responding to taunting at times.
But the police officer’s intervention dealt firmly with this group of tourists.
He stressed: “These soldiers serve their country.
“They take their job seriously.
“They are responsible for protecting this facility.
“They are not an object of ridicule.
“I appreciate you are having fun.”
The officer added: “He’s not having fun.
“He’s got a long day. There is a lot of hours he’s got to do.
“It’s tiring, exhausting, you are taking the piss out of him.
“We do not appreciate that.
“I will ask you to leave the facility.”
The young tourists, some of who appeared to be American, slunk off, looking a bit sheepish after being reprimanded.
Mr Cleverly is known at Westminster for being outspoken, a habit which has got him into trouble on a number of occasions.
