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Home Office

Answer

Miss Widdecombe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans were drawn up in respect of the protection of (a) the statue of Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square and (b) the Cenotaph prior to the disorder of 1 May; for what reasons, and on whose authority, it was decided not to protect them; how many persons have been (i) arrested and (ii) charged with vandalising the statue and the Cenotaph; what steps the police are taking to arrest other such persons; and if he will make a statement. [121075] Mr. Straw: I understand that both the Royal Parks Agency who have responsibility for the statues in Parliament Square and English Heritage who have responsibility for seven other statues and monuments, including the Cenotaph, damaged during the May Day disturbances, considered whether the statues and monuments should have been boarded up before the demonstration but decided not to do so. I understand that one factor which was taken into account by the Agency and English Heritage was a concern to avoid the hoarding being used as weapons in the event of violence. Figures for arrests and charges for criminal damage to individual statues and monuments is not available. The Metropolitan police advise me that 13 people have been arrested for criminal damage and that four of these have so far been charged. Police investigations into the disturbances are continuing.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

349 c314W;349 c313-4W; 121075

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Demonstrations Arrests Greater London English Heritage Protection Prosecutions Monuments Vandalism Royal Parks Agency

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk