NYPD: Harry and Meghan were ‘recklessly’chased by paparazzi through New York

[pipsfromthefuture]

Apparently there is enough to arrest two individuals as well.

"Paparazzi did chase Prince Harry and Meghan Markle “recklessly” through New York last year, police have confirmed.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said at the time that they and Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland narrowly avoided a “catastrophic” crash while being pursued by paparazzi after leaving the Women of Vision Awards at Manhattan’s Ziegfeld Ballroom on 16 May. [...]

However, in a hearing at the High Court on Wednesday, a judge revealed New York City Police did investigate the car chase and found paparazzi did display “persistently dangerous and unacceptable behaviour”.

"Investigation confirms Harry, Meghan, Doria were recklessly endangered in NY

Many thanks for this detailed analysis, @goldierocks, really interesting. I have also seen some commentary about the letter head and footers too being inconsistent with the norm. And the content referring to an "imminent event" I think, which doesn't make sense.

To be fair, the times they wind down the windows so that people can see and photograph them for specific events, I think that's totally fine.

It's also fine to say at a different point in time you don't want cameras in your face as you are being driven away. It's also fine to not want the paps to see where you will be staying so that you protect the privacy of your host and/or can pop out for a breakfast sandwich in the morning without being stalked by photographers etc

But if that's what you want, and at the same time safety is your primary concern then don't create a situation where you are 'chased' for two hours through a city. Don't change cars to a much less safe, secure and private option in the middle of that 'chase'.

Their security should have always had a plan B for this situation - all it would have taken - after the first 10-20 minutes of not being able to shake the paps was drive to a fancy hotel with VIP parking - wait a short time - paps think they have your destination, and then leave in an anonymous blacked out vehicle no one would have been any the wiser. The top New York hotels are very used to dealing with high profile people who need their privacy.

It was a huge security failure. I am surprised that as well-traveled as Meghan was before meeting Harry, she didn’t just take over the situation. One call to the Carlyle and they would have helped them out of their predicament, I am sure. Offered cover for a while and perhaps a secret exit.

I can understand Harry not really grasping how to travel safely given he never had to think about it before. But from my perspective you need security who is highly familiar with the city where you are traveling.

@@wordler I didn’t even read your post before writing mine. Perhaps we should open a security firm together.

But surely his hired experts should have known how to operate effectively and safely?

Endangering a random cab driver - how did they justify drawing him into their catastrophic situation? Oh wait, maybe they also felt it was inappropriate and challenging rather than catastrophic and therefore not such a big deal 😃

The TMZ footage of them in the cab doesn't indicate anything catastrophic or particularly dangerous. I agree, though, dragging an innocent cabbie into what they say they believed was a dangerous situation does not put them in a good light.

I'm not sure harry considers other people at all to be honest!

Interesting how the endangerment of the cab driver’s life isn’t drawing the same ire, which is sad, as he doesn’t have the title or platform to truly answer back anyway. Another disparity in power and privilege and concern.

However, if the situation wasn’t really that catastrophic and he wasn’t really in any danger, then perfectly understandable why no fuss is being made.

Can't do worse than the bozos running that evening's security!

Who would think it was a good idea to put your two principals and their mother in a car with a total stranger, an unproven driver within the context of a security situation?

Instead of releasing hyperbolic statements about 2-hour near-catastrophic car chases, Harry should have fired his security team and had a complete rethink about how they manage getting to and from events.

'Instead of releasing hyperbolic statements about 2-hour near-catastrophic car chases, Harry should have fired his security team and had a complete rethink about how they manage getting to and from events.'

Indeed.

He can never see the woods for the trees.

It would be interesting to know who made the decision to ignore the plan provided by NYPD - H&M or their security.

Was the NYPD’s advice to stop at a hotel to shake them off?

It's not clear - the article just says the NYPD recommended a "planned stop".

A luxury hotel with private underground parking would be the most obvious choice, but it's not specified.

Ah I see! I would have expected his security team to have had various contingency plans.

I’ve actually been impressed with how this group of mumsnetters have demonstrated Jason Bourne level planning skills.

Thanks skullbabe. I haven't read it yet but there's some interesting things coming out of it

These are the same guys walking around with a Glock in a box.

Sorry @AliceOlive , but glock in a box , really tickled me for some reason! 🤣🤣🤣🤣

It’s actually terrifying when I think about the implications of that. Jason Bourne they clearly ain’t!

@jeffgoldblum 😂

Does it have anything to do with a certain Saturday night live skit of old? 🤣

Quite possibly!!! 🤣

These are the same guys walking around with a Glock in a box.

That was funny because, in an emergency situation, what is the point of having a gun in a box!
I am wondering if, rather than a gun inside, it was actually Harry's packed lunch for the journey home and the security guard was just saving face😁

🤣