Protection Command

[2] In contrast with the vast majority of British police officers, many members of the Protection Command routinely carry firearms in the course of their duties and all are authorised firearms officers.

The department has three service areas: Prior to 1978, when the Royalty Protection Branch was formed as a separate non-divisional specialist unit, royalty protection officers were attached for administrative purposes to "A" Division, although they fell within "A" Department at New Scotland Yard.

PaDP provide armed and unarmed protection of embassies, missions and the Parliamentary Estate.

They also provide residential protection for high-profile government ministers and are responsible for access control and security at Downing Street and New Scotland Yard.

PaDP was the command in which Police Constable Keith Palmer, who was killed in an attack at Westminster in 2017, worked,[5] as did convicted kidnapper, murderer and rapist Wayne Couzens who used his status as a Police Officer to deceive his victim Sarah Everard by falsely arresting her.