White House Fence gets Spikes for Security -- Security Today

White House Fence gets Spikes for Security

By Ginger Hill
May 08, 2015

Remember last September when an Iraq war veteran with a knife scaled the fence surrounding the White House, ran across the North Lawn, entered the residence and ran through a large ballroom? Well, the Secret Service is now responding to this and a few other embarrassing breaches by adding sharp metal points to the black iron fence that acts as the perimeter to the U.S. President’s home. This is the first part in a series of security upgrades.

Identified as “pencil point” spikes, these will be bolted to the top of the fence and face outward at a 5 degree angle to deter and inhibit individuals from climbing over the fence. The spikes are a temporary measure while a new fence design is being created with the hope of beginning construction in 2016.

In addition to the spikes, the Secret Service is rearranging officer booths at three vehicle checkpoints and replacing large concrete barriers with steel plate barriers that have the ability to be raised and lowered.

The spikes, rearrangement of officer booths and the replacement of barriers is scheduled to be complete by early July of this year.

About the Author

Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.

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