10 Downing Street police who guarded PM are charged with assault

Two police officers who provided armed protection for Tony Blair and Gordon Brown at 10 Downing Street have been charged with serious offences of assault. Sergeant Patrick Byrne, 48, and PC Damien Roddam, 27 – both members of Scotland Yard’s elite CO6 Diplomatic Protection Group – were arrested within 48 hours of each other after unrelated violent ‘domestic’ incidents. The arrests are a damaging blow to the reputation of the DPG, whose 800 armed officers provide 24-hour protection for Government Ministers and foreign diplomats at London embassies. Sergeant Byrne has been charged with assaulting his wife Sarah, causing actual bodily harm following an alleged incident at his home in Horley, Surrey, on July 22. He has been released on bail and suspended from duty. 10 Downing Street: The officers provided armed protection for... [read full story]