A new law could be introduced to protect war monuments after pro-Gaza protesters climbed on the Royal Artillery Memorial in London, James Cleverly said on Thursday.
The Home Secretary slammed the behaviour of the individuals who climbed onto it while Rishi Sunak's spokesman called it "an affront to our armed forces".
The Metropolitan Police has said no laws were broken but veterans affairs minister Johnny Mercer said the Met did have powers to act, adding: “Let’s see those thugs dishonouring our war dead in handcuffs.”
Former soldier Mr Cleverly, who stressed it was his regimental memorial, criticised the protest at Hyde Park Corner.
He told LBC Radio: “It’s clearly wrong.
“The police have said that they recognise it’s deeply disrespectful for people to climb on war memorials.
“We have made a commitment to review the legislation around public order policing.”
Scotland Yard said no laws were broken when pro-Palestinian protesters climbed on the Royal Artillery Memorial at Hyde Park Corner after a demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday evening.
A video posted online of people on the memorial sparked criticism, but a statement from the police said the protesters had not broken any laws by their actions.
This evening, pro-Palestinian protestors were able to climb on the Royal Artillery Memorial at Hyde Park Corner.
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) November 15, 2023
We regret that officers were not able to respond quickly enough to stop it happening.
Below is our statement. pic.twitter.com/6RORNCVW9p
The statement said: “We know some online have asked why the protesters were not arrested.
“There is no law explicitly making it illegal to climb on a memorial so officers cannot automatically arrest, but they can intervene and make it clear the behaviour isn’t acceptable.
“The videos shared online show them doing that.”
Police said the protesters who climbed on the memorial were a breakaway group who had been dispersed at Hyde Park Corner.
“Most people would agree that to climb on or otherwise disrespect a war memorial is unacceptable,” the statement said. “That is why our officers have made every effort to prevent it happening in recent days.
“While officers were on scene quickly, we regret they were not there quickly enough to prevent the protesters accessing the memorial.”
A dispersal order was in place across parts of the City of Westminster from 7.50pm on Wednesday to 2am on Thursday.
Police said one arrest had been made at the protest for possession of an offensive weapon.
