By Martin Banks - 8th February 2011
The reconstruction has helped us identify a few weak spots
Parliament source
A parliament spokesman has admitted that "weak points" in the assembly's security set-up may have led to last Friday's armed robbery.
Two men, one of them armed, held up the post office in parliament and reportedly got away with at least €8000.
Police have started an investigation into what is said to be the third major breach of security in two years.
A senior parliamentary source told this website on Tuesday the authorities were trying to plug "weak spots" in the building's security that he said may have contributed to the latest raid.
He said all staff, including MEPs, had this week been reminded of the measures they had to respect in order to gain access to the building.
If a security guard is not able to recognise an MEP he will have the right to see his or her parliamentary badge.
The source said a full-scale reconstruction of the raid had taken place and revealed that the two culprits were caught on closed circuit TV cameras close to the post office.
The police investigation is ongoing but the images, he said, may be used to aid prosecution.
He said, "The reconstruction has helped us identify a few weak spots."
He said parliament's bureau, comprising parliament's president Jerzy Buzek and vice presidents will meet in Strasbourg to discuss how they can beef up security in parliament.
Parliament officials say it is "clear" that whoever was responsible "knew the parliament pretty well," raising the possibility that the culprits had an accomplice working in the assembly.
His comments come after UK Tory MEP Robert Sturdy called for parliament's current security company to be sacked.
He said, "There is clearly a serious problem here and we are calling for a change."
On Tuesday, security at some entrances to parliament was intensified with admission to the Henri Spaak entrance closed altogether.
Describing the break in as "unbelievable" Sturdy said, "Given the security that exists, I do not understand how someone with a gun can get in parliament."
Sturdy added, "Security has been too lax for some time and I have to say that what is being done now is too little too late."
He also called for "tighter" controls on visitor groups in parliament saying that many of the 300,000 visitors to the assembly create "havoc."
However, he said any restrictions should not extend to journalists or lobbyists who have "legitimate" business in parliament.
He said, "That would be cutting the throat of parliament."
Meanwhile, a security guard in parliament says the authorities are "victimising" his staff in the wake of the robbery.
He did not wish to be named, but the Flemish guard said, "It is always the security staff and cleaners who are the number one suspects. We are sick of it because we do our best.
"The word is that it was an 'inside job' and, contrary to what has been said, had nothing to do with security staff."
