Family of murdered PC Keith Palmer demand answers over Westminster security that had 'not functioned for years'

The family PC Keith Palmer who died in the Westminster Bridge terror attack have demanded answers about alleged failures in Parliament's security system, an inquest has heard.

The 48-year-old unarmed officer was on duty when he was stabbed to death on 22 March 2017 by Khalid Masood after he confronted the 52-year-old who had stormed the Carriage Gates at the front of Parliament.

London's Old Bailey heard that two years before the officer was killed, Scotland Yard had failed to heed warnings about "lax" security at the Palace of Westminster.

Dominic Adamson, representing PC Palmer's widow Michelle said that the move from fixed posts for armed officers outside for Parliament to roving patrols made the gates “materially more vulnerable”.

A series of emails sent in February 2015, revealed that a senior Metropolitan Police officer wrote to the chief inspector of operations at Westminster noting his concerns over the position of firearm officers.

Further emails revealed that those in charge “didn’t really know what the deployment plan was” and there was often confusion amongst officers about where they were supposed to be stationed.

Giving evidence, PC Lee Ashby and PC Nicholas Sanders told the inquest that they believed they were required to patrol a wider area in New Palace Yard.

Pc Sanders said: "Along with all of the other places of threat in that sector as well sir, yes."

Two authorised firearms officers (AFOs) on duty on 22 March have said they had never seen instructions issued in 2015, which said they should focus on the gates when they were open.

The inquest was told that no AFOs had been near the gates for almost an hour before the attack.

Susannah Stevens, representing PC Palmer's family, said all they wanted was “an opportunity to put questions to see whether or not the failures in the system would have made a difference."

The inquests continue into the deaths of PC Palmer, Kurt Cochran, 54, Leslie Rhodes, 75, Aysha Frade, 44, and Andreea Cristea, 31.

Additional reporting by Press Association.