Officers jogging alongside PM's convoy was 'unusual', says Met Police

Scotland Yard chief Mark Rowley admits police used ‘unusual tactics’ to get Rishi Sunak through a protest for ‘urgent business’ in Downing Street – after ‘North Korea-style’ footage emerged of officers on bicycles and jogging alongside PM’s motorcade

• Met Police Commissioner is grilled over bizarre scenes in Whitehall on Sunday 

Metropolitan Police chief Sir Mark Rowley today admitted his officers used ‘unusual tactics’ to escort Rishi Sunak back to Downing Street this weekend.

The Scotland Yard boss was grilled over bizarre scenes in Whitehall on Sunday when police were spotted jogging alongside the Prime Minister’s motorcade.

Footage of the incident, shared widely on social media, quickly drew comparisons to the security arrangements afforded to North Korea’s dictator Kim Jong-un.

But Sir Mark this morning told MPs the use of large numbers of officers to escort Mr Sunak was ‘not the routine’.

He revealed the PM was ‘returning to his office for some urgent business’ amid an Extinction Rebellion protest in Westminster.

Metropolitan Police chief Sir Mark Rowley admitted his officers used ‘unusual tactics’ to escort Rishi Sunak back to Downing Street this weekend

The Scotland Yard boss was grilled over bizarre scenes in Whitehall on Sunday when police were spotted jogging alongside the Prime Minister’s motorcade 

In footage of the incident posted online this weekend, around 10 police officers on bicycles were seen at the very front of an unusual convoy 

About 20 officers running on foot were then followed by four blacked-out Range Rovers, a people carrier, a Met Police vehicle, and more jogging officers

The footage of the incident, shared widely on social media, quickly drew comparisons to the security arrangements afforded to North Korea’s dictator Kim Jong-un

In footage of the incident posted online this weekend, around 10 police officers on bicycles were seen at the very front of an unusual convoy.

They were then followed by about 20 colleagues running on foot ahead of police motorbike outriders.

Then followed four blacked-out Range Rovers, a people carrier and a Met Police vehicle, before more jogging officers completed the strange spectacle.

Sir Mark was quizzed about the incident in an appearance before the House of Commons’ Home Affairs Committee this morning.

‘There was a large planned protest in Parliament Square,’ he told MPs. ‘The PM was returning to his office for some urgent business.

‘So we dealt with those two conflicting pressures to get the PM back into his office.’

When Labour MP Diana Johnson, the Committee’s chair, suggested the scenes were reminiscent of the security detail for an American president, Sir Mark added: ‘You won’t often see a protected person being taken through a large protest.

‘But on that occasion it was necessary so that’s why you saw some unusual tactics. 

‘That is not the routine, no.’

A Extinction Rebellion flag was spotted among the crowds as London Marathon runners passed through Parliament Square on Sunday

Responding to the footage of the PM’s convoy, Twitter users were quick to draw comparisons to scenes from North Korea

Footage of the incident was posted online this weekend when the London Marathon caused a number of road closures in the capital.

Demonstrators from Extinction Rebellion had also gathered in Westminster, including Parliament Square, as part of a four-day protest.

Viewers were quick to draw comparisons between the PM’s escort and the running bodyguards who often accompany Mr Kim’s motorcade.

They jog alongside the North Korean leader’s limosuine dressed in suits and are formally known as the Main Office of Adjutants.

They are selected from Korean People’s Army recruits who are fulfilling their national service subscription obligations.

It is said the bodyguards have to be approximately the same height as Mr Kim.

Responding to the footage of the PM’s convoy, one Twitter user quipped: ‘This escort looks like something out of North Korea but with less fit and fewer good looking bodyguards.

Another added: ‘The difference between North Korea and Rishi Sunak’s regime? About 20 BMI.’

A third said: ‘Looks like a homage to Pyongyang on military parade day.’

Mr Sunak was pictured meeting with Tory MPs at Chequers, his official country retreat in Buckinghamshire, on Sunday.

He also spent part of the weekend liaising over the evacuation of British diplomats and their families from Sudan.

The PM then hosted a business conference near London’s Kings Cross station on Monday morning.

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