PUBLIC AFFAIRS SECTION

Press Release

27 November 2006
U.S. Embassy Breaks Ground on Perimeter Security Initiative

On November 27, the U.S. Embassy in London officially launched its long-planned, $15 million perimeter security upgrade project, which will make the Embassy and surrounding neighborhood safer. Ambassador Robert Tuttle, along with senior representatives of the Westminster City Council, participated in the groundbreaking.

Ambassador Tuttle and Westminster City officials break ground for the U.S. Embassy's perimeter security project. Left to right: Martin Low, Director of Transportation for the City of Westminster, Councillor Robert Davis, City of Westminster, Ambassador Robert Tuttle, and Deputy Chief of Mission David Johnson. (U.S. Embassy London photo by Sarah-Jane Mayhew)

The ambitious project, paid for by the U.S. Government, aims to enhance security for the Embassy and the surrounding neighborhood by making the Embassy a less attractive target. The project will also improve the appearance of the security installation, and streamline the entrance of visa applicants and other visitors to the Embassy. Significantly, the project includes the installation of bollards in Upper Brook Street and Upper Grosvenor Street, to make it possible to close the roads in the event the UK authorities decide to close them. While the U.S. Government is installing the bollards, their activation will be at the discretion of UK law enforcement authorities.

The plans for upgrading the perimeter security of the U.S. Embassy had been under discussion since 2004, and the required Westminster City Council permissions, as well as the required U.S. Government budget approval, finally came together in 2006. The project is expected to be completed by January 2008.

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