Amateur footage of the attack on the Rolls Royce carrying the royal couple
Royal attack ‘not down to radios’
Police have denied that a breakdown in radio communications led to a car carrying the Prince of Wales becoming caught up in violent student protests.
The prince’s and the Duchess of Cornwall’s car was daubed with paint and had a window smashed on Thursday.
Reports suggest protection officers were on a different radio frequency to those policing the protests, but police insist the teams were in communication.
A major inquiry into the student disorder of recent weeks has begun.
The Metropolitan Police described it as a “major criminal investigation”.
Violent clashes happened on Thursday as MPs voted to allow university tuition fees to rise to up to £9,000 per year in England.
The royal couple were being escorted by outriders and Royalty Protection Officers during the incident involving their car in central London.
A police spokesman said the route along Regent Street had been checked minutes before the incident and was deemed to be safe.
In response to reports that officers involved in the escort had radios on different frequencies to those policing the wider protest, Scotland Yard insisted the teams were communicating and may have used e-mail or mobile telephones.
The police blame a fast-moving situation on the ground for the security breach, as protesters had been roaming through the West End in small groups, away from the larger protest in Parliament Square.
During three previous days of national action by student protesters, there had been scuffles with police and numerous arrests, but Thursday’s disturbances involved the worst violence.
In a statement on Friday evening, Scotland Yard said it had launched an investigation into “the student disorder seen across London between 10 November and 10 December”.
The force said: “Whilst a large majority of protesters came to demonstrate peacefully, a significant number came intent on violence.
“This will not be tolerated and anyone identified as being actively involved in criminality at the student protests will be prosecuted.”
In other developments on Friday:
The Independent Police Complaints Commission said it was investigating a claim that 20-year-old Middlesex University student Alfie Meadows suffered serious head injuries after being hit on the head with a police truncheonA Mayor of London spokesman said the cost of repairing damage in Parliament and Trafalgar Square could exceed £50,000Don Foster, one Lib Dem MP to vote for the fees rise, had a rock thrown through his office windowCambridge University student Charlie Gilmour, son of Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour, apologised for climbing the Cenotaph memorial to Britain’s war dead, calling it a “moment of idiocy”Business Secretary Vince Cable said the Lib Dems were still “united” despite the rebellion by some of its MPs in the Commons vote
During Thursday protesters largely took over Parliament Square and pressed against police lines in front of the Houses of Parliament.
After nightfall, riot police forced back protesters who were smashing windows at the Treasury and the Supreme Court.
Then at 1915 GMT, protesters launched an attack on the royal couple’s car as it passed along Regent Street on its way to the London Palladium. The Rolls Royce was kicked, splashed with paint and a window was smashed to chants of “off with their heads”.
Clarence House has refused to comment on reports that the Duchess was poked with a stick, but did say the royal couple were unharmed and attended the Royal Variety Performance at the Palladium as scheduled.
The London Ambulance Service said it treated 58 people at the protests, of whom 44 were taken to hospital. The Met said at least six of 30 injured officers needed hospital treatment.
So far, there have been 33 people arrested, most of whom have been released on bail. No-one has been charged.
Students have criticised police tactics, particularly of holding demonstrators in a small area, known as “kettling”.
Only 28 Lib Dem MPs – fewer than half – voted for the government’s plans for tuition fees. Six Conservative MPs voted against. Three ministerial aides resigned.
The policy will see the basic fee cap rise from £3,290 to £6,000 and universities in England able to charge £9,000 in “exceptional” circumstances.
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