London Archives - Page 2 of 4 - Armoured & Luxury

I took three bullets for Princess Anne

March 20, 2014 / By Armoured Cars / In security

In March 1974, Jim Beaton, a royalty protection officer, helped prevent the kidnapping of Princess Anne as she was returning to Buckingham Palace in a chauffeur-driven limousine.

A white car swerved in front of the limousine as it drove along the Mall. A man, Ian Ball, jumped out and went round to the side where Princess Anne was sitting.

Jim Beaton attempted to intervene but was shot. He fired his weapon but missed on account of his injuries and then the gun jammed. Another attempt to knock over Ball failed and Beaton was shot a third time.

Ball was later grappled to the ground by a policeman. In all, four people were wounded.

Ball, 26 at the time, was prosecuted for the attempted murder of Jim Beaton and various other offences.

Budget changes give a boost to Pensioners and Savers

March 20, 2014 / By Armoured Cars / In security

George Osborne has unveiled measures to boost the income of pensioners and savers hit by low interest rates.

The amount people can save tax-free in Isas is to rise, while pensioners also get a higher interest savings option.

People will also no longer have to use their pension pot to buy annuities.

The chancellor froze petrol duty, cut bingo tax from 20% to 10%, froze spirits and cider duty and cut a further 1p from a pint of beer – but put the price of cigarettes up.

Labour leader Ed Miliband dismissed the Budget as full of the “same old Tory tricks” and said millions of people were worse off under the coalition government.

How do you spot a fake pound coin

March 20, 2014 / By Armoured Cars / In security

The number of fake £1 coins in circulation now stands at more than 30 million, according to the Royal Mint. How do you know if you’ve been given one?

That £1 coin in your pocket could be worthless.

The number of fake pound coins in circulation has doubled in the past five years and one in every 50 is now counterfeit.

It’s illegal to make or use counterfeited coins and the Royal Mint says people must hand them in if they think they have one. But how can you tell?

It all depends on the quality of the counterfeit, but key signs include a poorly defined ribbed edge, the wrong typeface and an indistinct design or bust of the Queen. A fake can also be slightly different in colour.

George Osborne says UK economy is turning corner

September 9, 2013 / By Armoured Cars / In security

The UK economy is “turning a corner”, Chancellor George Osborne has said in a speech in London.

Mr Osborne cited “tentative signs of a balanced, broad based and sustainable recovery”, but stressed it was still the “early stages” and “plenty of risks” remained.

Mr Osborne said that recent months – which have seen more upbeat reports on the economy – had “decisively ended” questions about his economic policy.

Labour has dismissed the comments.

The speech comes ahead of the Conservative Party conference later this month, and after a number of forecasts and surveys pointed to an acceleration in the UK’s economic recovery.

MPs warn that Aircraft carrier fighter jet programme is a huge risk

September 4, 2013 / By Armoured Cars / In security

MPs have raised fresh concerns about the cost of fighter jets for the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers, warning of “uncontrolled growth” in budgets.

The Commons Public Accounts Committee said billions of pounds had already gone “down the drain” during the carrier strike procurement programme.

An order for jump jets for the two new carriers was scrapped in 2010, only to be reversed 18 months later.

Ministers said they were negotiating to bring costs under control.

The Labour government signed a contract for two new aircraft carrier in 2007.