From the Telegraph
Tony Blair has become the most heavily and expensively protected former prime minister in history.
Scotland Yard is running a multi-million pound operation around Mr Blair, effectively transferring the security he enjoyed as prime minister into his retirement.
He is in the top handful of global terrorism targets and police and MI5 believe he will remain in al-Qa'eda's sights for years to come.
His role as a "peace envoy" in the Middle East for the major powers will do little to lower his profile.
The running costs of the operation for police are likely to reach at least £3 million a year and involve armed officers for Mr Blair, discreet protection for his wife, fortified houses and bomb-proof and bullet-proof cars. This outstrips protection for Margaret Thatcher when she left office in 1990, when she was still at the top of the IRA's hit list.
The complexity of the living arrangements of a still relatively young couple with four children is expected to add significantly to the costs, as does the foreign travel involved in Mr Blair's new role.
The personal protection around Mr Blair and his family will involve armed officers from Scotland Yard's specialist operations department working with drivers trained in escaping assassination or hijack attempts.
Tony Blair has become the most heavily and expensively protected former prime minister in history.
Scotland Yard is running a multi-million pound operation around Mr Blair, effectively transferring the security he enjoyed as prime minister into his retirement.
He is in the top handful of global terrorism targets and police and MI5 believe he will remain in al-Qa'eda's sights for years to come.
His role as a "peace envoy" in the Middle East for the major powers will do little to lower his profile.
The running costs of the operation for police are likely to reach at least £3 million a year and involve armed officers for Mr Blair, discreet protection for his wife, fortified houses and bomb-proof and bullet-proof cars. This outstrips protection for Margaret Thatcher when she left office in 1990, when she was still at the top of the IRA's hit list.
The complexity of the living arrangements of a still relatively young couple with four children is expected to add significantly to the costs, as does the foreign travel involved in Mr Blair's new role.
The personal protection around Mr Blair and his family will involve armed officers from Scotland Yard's specialist operations department working with drivers trained in escaping assassination or hijack attempts.
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