The Thin Blue Line

I work on the Thameslink Programme at Network Rail's offices in Southwark. It's a central location and no more than 15 minute's walk from either the City or the Palace of Westminster. I'm an occasional visitor to the Houses of Parliament, and I'm always impressed by the courtesy and professionalism of the Police and Security staff who work there.

Yesterday as many of you know by now, Constable Keith Palmer lost his life defending the Palace of Westminster. Only moments before he was attacked he was taking selfies with tourists. He was unarmed. Four other people died yesterday including the perpetrator of the attacks. Many more were injured, including French schoolchildren on a trip to London. Westminster is the very heart of our democracy; the Police did great work yesterday to keep our streets and our Parliament safe for us. I must mention Conservative MP and Minister Tobias Elwood who fought hard to try and save PC Palmer's life.  Life goes on; as it always must. The only answer to attacks like these is to just bloody well get with life. See you Saturday morning on the Unite for Europe march!

Adds: Julia Hines has since brought this blog post to my attention. It contains very practical and useful advice: http://whatkirstydidnext.com/lifestyle/practical-ways-to-help-in-times-of-an-attack/

1. Show your appreciation for our AMAZING emergency services by making a donation. Text SAVE to 70800 to donate £5 to London’s Air Ambulance, who were quickly on the scene.
2. It’s reported that members of the public gave first aid to those who were injured whilst waiting for the emergency services. Consider a donation to St John Ambulance who provides training in first aid. Text AID to 70030 to donate £5.
3. Go on a first aid course.
4. Tower RNLI was deployed to save a woman who had fallen into the Thames and who is among the injured. Support their work with a donation. Text RNLI to 70300 to donate £5.
5. To honour the policeman who lost his life, tweet your appreciation of our policemen and women who put their lives on the line for us every day. Better yet, tweet a local police department.
6. Retweet this and call out anyone sharing inappropriate images.

1. I know it's Twitter and there's no editor but please don't RT pictures of dead and wounded on Westminster Bridge. They have loved ones.

— fleetstreetfox (@fleetstreetfox) March 22, 2017

7. If you see something suspicious but you don’t want to waste police time because ‘it’s probably nothing‘, report it. If you think it might be suspicious, it probably is.

If anyone sees anything suspicious or that causes them concern please call 0800 789 321 ASAP – always call 999 in an emergency #London

— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) March 22, 2017

8. Donate blood. Find out where you can donate blood on the NHS Blood and Transplant website.
9. Show your appreciation for the amazing work of our NHS staff. Sign the Save our NHS petition.
10. If you were in the area at the time of the incident and have any footage – photos or video, send it to to the police via this website.
11. Don’t spread fear. Do not share anything that is mere speculation. Arm yourself with knowledge and FACT. Share news only from verified and trusted sources such as the BBC.
In times like this it’s difficult to comprehend such an attack but we mustn’t just stand by. We can do something and we must.