Westminster attack: Security system 'completely failed' Khalid Masood's victim Pc Keith Palmer

The Palace of Westminster's security system had not "functioned for years" and "completely failed" Pc Keith Palmer on the day he was stabbed to death by a terrorist, an inquest has heard.

The officer was killed during the Westminster Bridge terror attack last year by Khalid Masood, 52.

Masood attacked the officer after fatally striking Kurt Cochran, 54, Leslie Rhodes, 75, Aysha Frade, 44, and Andreea Cristea, 31, as he ploughed through pedestrians on Westminster Bridge in a rented car.

Pc Lee Ashby, one of two authorised firearms officers (AFOs) who was on duty in New Palace Yard when Masood struck, said he would have taken the shot if he had been on a fixed post at Carriage Gates.

He and colleague Pc Nicholas Sanders were instead positioned at the other side of the yard where they could not see or hear the carnage unfolding, and no AFOs had been near the gates for almost an hour.

Pc Ashby said he was responsible for patrolling "sector three", including the Members' Entrance, Carriage Gates and College Green.

The experienced marksman accepted it was not possible to provide effective cover for the gates on his patrol and agreed the system left unarmed officers unprotected at the entrance "more often than not".

Dominic Adamson, representing Pc Palmer's widow Michelle, said: "The system of security at the Palace of Westminster completely failed to protect Pc Palmer on that day?"

Pc Ashby replied: "It would seem so, sir."

The barrister continued: "Because it had not functioned for years?"

"Based on the sector three map, which I was responsible for, yes," the officer replied.

The Old Bailey heard that guidelines outlined in "post notes" - which said officers were to focus on Carriage Gates when they were open - had not been followed since they were produced in 2015.

An email chain including Nick Aldworth, chief inspector of operations at the Palace of Westminster, showed concerns had been raised over the positioning of armed officers as early as February 2015.

Pc Ashby said he was unaware of the guidance and instead followed instructions given by his sergeants in daily briefings.

He was never challenged by his seniors over the six years he held a permanent post at the Palace of Westminster, the inquest heard.

Pc Ashby and Pc Sanders faced a misconduct investigation after the March 22 terror attack, but no formal action was taken.

Mr Adamson suggested it was an "extraordinary situation" where armed officers "had no idea what they were supposed to be doing" and that "lax" security arrangements had persisted for years.

"The sector area, sector three, was too big, too large for two officers," Pc Ashby replied.

He said he thought there should have been four sets of armed officers at fixed points on the gates.

Asked if he would have fired his weapon at Masood if he had a clear shot from a fixed post at the gates, Pc Ashby said: "I would have taken the shot, yes sir."

Pc Ashby was armed with a G36 carbine assault rifle and a Glock pistol and said his weapons would have put him in a better position to shoot Masood than the plainclothed personal protection officer who shot him three times.

However, under questioning from Hugo Keith QC, representing the Metropolitan Police, Pc Ashby admitted had he been on a fixed post on Carriage Gates, he may have left his position to investigate when he heard Masood's car crash into the railings around the corner.

Additional reporting by Press Association.