Palace intruders face jail

Intruders at royal palaces will be prosecuted for "criminal trespass" and face up to six months in jail, the Government has decided.

Home Office sources said the offence will be created to deter protesters or journalists from entering Buckingham Palace and other key sites.

The change should also send out a signal to terrorists that it is not easy to work undercover at sensitive locations.

Although the list of premises has yet to be finalised, a decision in principle has been taken to go ahead with the change. Among the residences likely to be covered by the new law are Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Balmoral, Sandringham and Holyrood.

Sensitive government buildings are also expected to be included, with Downing Street, Chequers and most Whitehall departments covered. The change, which will be announced "shortly", would be tightly defined to ensure it could not be used for any other locations, according to sources.

The move follows several embarrassments, such as the stunt by comedian Aaron Barschak who gatecrashed Prince William's 21st birthday at Windsor Castle. Mirror journalist Ryan Parry then posed as a footman before exposing life at Buckingham Palace.

At present, intruders can only be charged with non-criminal trespass. The case for change was underlined last month when Fathers 4 Justice campaigner Jason Hatch managed to scale a ledge dressed as Batman.

Police, palace officials and ministers were furious when he escaped without a serious fine or threat of a prison sentence. The new offence will mirror that available to foreign embassies in London.