Editing Downing Street (section)

== Security gates ==
[[File:Downing Street, London 01.JPG|thumb|left|The gates at the entrance to Downing Street]]
Barriers were erected at the St James's Park end of the street for the unveiling of the [[The Cenotaph, Whitehall|Cenotaph]] on 11 November 1920. They were a public safety measure intended to prevent the crowds in Whitehall becoming too dense.<ref name="NYT">New York Times, ''Build wall around Premier's house'', 27 November 1920.</ref>

When the [[Irish War of Independence|movement for Irish independence]] became increasingly violent, it was decided  to retain the barriers, which were raised and strengthened. On 26 November 1920 construction commenced on a wooden barricade, {{convert|8|ft}} high at the end of the street. They were described as being of a "substantial character" mounted on proper foundations and incorporated vehicle gates.<ref name="NYT"/><ref name=Gates_01>{{cite web |url= http://www.number10.gov.uk/history-and-tour/history-of-the-building/number-10-transformed |title= Number 10 Transformed | publisher=UK Government}}</ref> The barriers were taken down in 1922 when the [[Irish Free State]] was created.

Vehicle access was curtailed in 1973 when metal barriers were placed across the entrance to the street.<ref>{{cite web|author=Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons, Westminster |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm198889/cmhansrd/1989-10-25/Writtens-2.html |title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 25 Oct 1989 |publisher=Publications.parliament.uk }}</ref> In 1974, the [[Metropolitan Police]] proposed erecting a semi-permanent barrier between the [[sidewalk|pavement]] and [[carriageway]] on the Foreign Office side to keep pedestrians off the main part of the street. The proposal came with assurances that tourists would still be permitted to take photographs at the door of Number 10. The Prime Minister, [[Harold Wilson]], rejected the proposal, feeling that it would appear to be an unacceptable restriction of the freedom of the public. Wilson's [[private secretary]] wrote "I much regret this further erosion of the Englishman's right to wander at will in Downing Street."<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/wilson-blocked-plans-barriers-outside-5045741| work=Huddersfield Daily Examiner | title=Wilson blocked plans for barriers outside No 10 | year=2007}}</ref>

In 1982 access was further restricted by railings and a demountable gate. They were replaced by black steel gates in 1989.<ref name="1990hansard">{{cite web|author=Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons, Westminster |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm198990/cmhansrd/1990-01-09/Writtens-3.html |title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 9 Jan 1990 |publisher=Publications.parliament.uk }}</ref> The increase in security was due to an increase in violence, particularly by the [[Provisional Irish Republican Army|IRA]] during [[The Troubles]]. The Thatcher ministry was particularly moved to increase security after the 1979 [[Assassination of Louis Mountbatten|Assassination of Lord Mountbatten]].

Access through these gates led to a political scandal known as [[Plebgate]] (or [[List of "-gate" scandals|Gategate]]), which started in September 2012. The trigger was an altercation between [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] [[Chief Whip]] [[Andrew Mitchell]], and the police officers on duty at these gates. Mitchell had to resign as the Government Chief Whip because of the incident.

On the afternoon of 25 May 2023 the gates were damaged when a car crashed into them. The Prime Minister was inside 10 Downing Street at the time. A man was arrested by police and the incident was not terrorism related.<ref> {{Cite news |date=2023-05-25 |title=Man arrested after crashing car into Downing Street gates in London |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-26/man-arrested-car-crash-downing-st-pm-office/102395402 |access-date=2023-10-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-05-25 |title=Man arrested after car crashes into Downing Street gates |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-65714508 |access-date=2023-05-25}}</ref>

=== Public right of way ===
[[File:Downing street.jpg|thumb|left|Downing Street in the late 1980s, before the gates were installed]]Technically speaking, the public [[Rights of way in England and Wales|right of way]] along Downing Street has not been extinguished nor subject to a gating order and the road retains the status of a public highway maintained by [[Westminster City Council]]. Public access was curtailed by relying on [[common law]] powers to prevent [[breach of the peace]]<ref name="1990hansard"/><ref>{{cite web|author=Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons, Westminster |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo011219/text/11219w59.htm |title=House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 19 Dec 2001 (pt 59) |publisher=Publications.parliament.uk }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons, Westminster |url=http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo020724/text/20724w41.htm |title=House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 24 Jul 2002 (pt 41) |publisher=Parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013075132/http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo020724/text/20724w41.htm |archive-date=13 October 2008 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> (although its legality has been questioned by a correspondent for ''[[New Statesman]]'' magazine).<ref name=newstatesman>{{cite web|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/david-allen-green/2012/12/what-powers-do-downing-street-police-actually-have |title=What powers do the Downing Street police actually have? |first=David Allen |last=Green |website=New Statesman (blogs)|date=19 December 2012 }}</ref> In 2005, Westminster City Council used anti-terrorism powers contained in the [[Civil Contingencies Act 2004]] to formalise the restrictions by means of a traffic management order.<ref name=newstatesman /> This by implication results in Downing Street being inaccessible to the general public as admittance is only granted by the Police to scheduled visitors, Parliamentary pass holders and members of the accredited press.

Although the Downing Street government buildings and grounds are a designated site under the [[Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005]] for criminal trespass, the street was not included in the boundaries of the designated area.<ref>{{UK-LEG|title=Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (Designated Sites under Section 128) Order 2007 (No. 930)|path=uksi/2007/930/schedule/2/part/1|asmade=yes}}</ref>

=== Security ===
Since 1989, entering Downing Street has required passing through a [[security checkpoint]]. The street is patrolled by [[armed police]] from the [[Diplomatic Protection Group]], and there is usually at least one police officer outside the front door of Number 10. Security was tightened after 10 Downing Street was [[Downing Street mortar attack|mortar bombed by the IRA in 1991]] and again after the [[11 September attacks]].