Yahoo News Terrorism fears at BBC Broadcasting House mean cafe may never reopen to general public
The BBC has moved to end unvetted members of the public accessing Broadcasting House in Fitzrovia because of concerns over terrorism and criminal damage from protests. The BBC said the reception areas of Broadcasting House and the Media Cafe have been closed to the public since 2017 'as a consequence of both terrorist activity and then the COVID pandemic', an application to Westminster City Council shows.
The broadcasting giant also cited the Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill introduced to Parliament earlier this month, which it said would bring 'additional operational and legal responsibilities'. The application read: "They [the BBC] argue that these responsibilities make public access unviable as the BBC would need to implement significant measures to reduce the risk to as low as reasonably practicable.
"This would involve searching every member of the public and their belongings, rucksacks, suitcases, etc. who enters the building, regardless of whether they are visiting the reception areas, Media Café or not. This would have to be at the earliest point of entry, which is operationally unviable, as it would be impossible to search every member of the public who enters the building."
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The BBC added that the risk to the building and its occupants would also increase as a potential terrorist actor would already be inside the building before they have even been searched. The one and only objector to the application said the security incidents and terrorist attacks referred to as justification all took place after the BBC blocked public access in 2017.
The objector said they believed the proposals were 'purely to enable the BBC to use the space for internal meetings and for their social club' and the Media Cafe was not visible 'on air' and at no particular threat from protesters. A security assessment found high-profile incidents involving BBC staff had made London Broadcasting House a focal point for a 'vast' number of protests.
The report said, since 2019 the building had been targeted with 119 protests and that reopening the receptions and Media Cafe would leave it susceptible to protesters entering undetected. The assessment also cited instances of criminal damage in the past 12 months, such as to a statue above the entrance to the reception of Old Broadcasting House and red liquid being sprayed on the external doors of New Broadcasting House.
It found the Media Cafe overlooked the newsrooms and was a 'vulnerable spot' within the building that could be open to the threat of terrorism or protest action. The security assessment found that to reopen the Media Cafe, the BBC would have to use a pre-booking system for visitors, ticketing, ID and security checks on arrival.
The report read: "The Metropolitan Police agree that any person entering this space should be managed by an appropriate level of guard force, with those wishing to use the space undergoing the same vetting and screening as any other visitor into the building. If these measures cannot be implemented or maintained, it would present a significant vulnerability to the site."
The council report said the BBC provided communications across the globe and was considered a major part of the UK's national infrastructure. It said any interference or disruption to the BBC's capability to broadcast live could be viewed as a direct attack on the UK and is therefore considered a likely target for terrorism attacks or protests.
The BBC said it remains committed to allowing public access to Broadcasting House and pointed out it allows in schools, family members of BBC staff, community groups and audience members. The BBC said as a holding area for audiences, the Media Cafe alone sees approximately 60,000 to 80,000 visitors a year.
They also mentioned being able to watch The One Show from the outside piazza and general access to the World Cafe, which is the Caffe Nero within the piazza. The BBC also contended the policies in place which led to the original planning application being approved and members of the public being allowed in were no longer present and that removing this would not breach its original legal agreement.
The original planning permission from May 2003 had been granted on the legal ground the BBC provided public access to a number of areas in the building, including the reception areas and Media Cafe, then known as the Radio Theatre cafe. Westminster City Council said public access to Broadcasting House needed to be considered against both the current policy position of the BBC and security concerns.
The council wrote: "In accordance with the advice of the Metropolitan Police this is considered paramount, and a deed of variation is therefore considered acceptable." Councillors will meet on Tuesday, November 26, to discuss the application. The BBC has been contacted for comment.
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