Prince Harry's Security: Ex-Counter Terrorism Head Neil Basu on RAVEC Decisions

The RAVEC System and Its Opacity

• 💡 The Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) makes decisions on protection for high-profile individuals, with meetings involving powerful figures from the Royal Household, police, and the Home Office.
• 🧠 While RAVEC operates on a professional system, its necessary secrecy regarding operational methods and threat assessments can be difficult for individuals like Prince Harry to understand.
• 🔑 Decisions are made by a tripartite committee, where any member can request an individual be added to or removed from the protected list.

Prince Harry's Security Risk Assessment

• 🎯 Prince Harry's threat and risk profile was historically high, placing him second only to the late Queen in 2019.
• ⚠️ Despite this, he reportedly did not receive a subsequent risk analysis before decisions were made about his automatic protection in 2020, a decision former head of counterterrorism Neil Basu calls a "mistake."
• 📈 Factors contributing to his risk profile include his military service, public commentary on his combat experience, marriage to a woman of color, and media scrutiny.

Discretion and "Brand Britain"

• ⚖️ RAVEC's decisions involve discretion, considering the potential "impact" on the public psyche, economy, or "UK plc" if something were to happen to an individual.
• 🚀 High-profile figures like Taylor Swift and Salman Rushdie have received protection due to their significant economic or reputational impact on "Brand Britain."
• 📌 It is argued that Prince Harry, as one of the world's most recognizable figures, also represents a significant asset to "Brand Britain," and the withdrawal of his protection seems to be an odd decision.

Security Breaches and Inadequate Protection

• 🚨 A known stalker reportedly came within feet of Prince Harry at the WellChild Awards, highlighting a potential security breach and reinforcing concerns about his risk level.
• 🚫 Protection is reportedly only provided during "official business," leaving him vulnerable during private engagements, which is illogical as threat levels do not fluctuate based on activity.
• 📞 The current arrangement of a "liaison officer" is described as the lowest form of protection, essentially advisory, and not a substitute for state-provided security.

Cost Implications and Local Police Burden

• 💰 While cost is a factor, it's suggested that the current piecemeal approach to Prince Harry's security may be more expensive due to the involvement of multiple police forces needing to ramp up resources.
• 🛡️ Individual chief constables are individually responsible and could be sued if something happens to Prince Harry on their watch, leading them to potentially use their own force's resources, diverting them from frontline duties.
• ✈️ Private security teams hired by Prince Harry cannot carry weapons on UK soil, meaning he lacks the same level of lethal threat protection he has abroad, despite being prepared to pay for it himself.

The Role of the Royal Household and Reconciliation

• 🤔 It is speculated that the Royal Household, rather than the King directly, may have influenced the decision to withdraw Prince Harry's protection, framing it as a personal family issue rather than a security one.
• 🤝 Reconciliation between Prince Harry and his father, the King, is seen as a potential key to resolving the issue, with a renewed risk assessment likely to confirm the need for protection.
• 💔 The situation is viewed as deeply sad, with the country being "poorer" for the absence of the Sussexes and other royal family members working together.