UK News 14-09-2004 Batman in Palace Protest who: Painter and decorator Jason Hatch what: Arrested for Fathers4Justice protest dressed as Batman where: Buckingham Palace, LONDON when: Yesterday snippet: "A security review was launched last night," says The Guardian, "after a campaigner dressed as Batman thwarted armed police to scale Buckingham Palace and hold a five-hour protest beside the royal balcony." Although The Queen was in Balmoral and none of the Royal family were in residence, the press are still demanding that heads must roll for allowing 32-year-old painter and decorator Jason Hatch - a member of the group Fathers4Justice - to hold a five-hour protest beside the royal balcony with the aid of nothing more sophisticated than a 10ft extendable aluminium ladder. "Asked if allowing the Caped Crusader to scamper up to a Buckingham Palace ledge was embarrassing," says The Sun, "[Scotland Yard chief Sir John Stevens] admitted: `There is no doubt. I am determined to find out how this happened`." "Two recent security breaches have prompted a thorough review of the Royal Family`s safety, and drawn promises that Royal residences would now be more tightly guarded," notes The Times. "Last year Aaron Barschak, a comedian dressed as Osama bin Laden, infiltrated Prince William`s fancy-dress 21st birthday party at Windsor Castle, while Ryan Parry, a Daily Mirror reporter, worked for two months as a Palace footman, gaining access to the Queen and her family." "At a time when the terrorist threat has never been so real or so great, this latest episode is extremely serious," comments shadow home secretary David Davis in The Times. Meanwhile, The Scotsman reports another national security farce as £10,000 goes missing from a safe in the new Scottish Parliament. [... more]

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