§ Miss WiddecombeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what statues and buildings were vandalised during the disorder in central London on 1 May; what lasting damage was done; how many people have been(a) arrested for and (b) charged with damaging the statues and buildings; and if he will make a statement. [121044]
§ Mr. StrawThe statues in Parliament Square, for which the Royal Parks Agency have responsibility, were defaced to varying degrees. Remedial work on these is currently being undertaken by specialist contractors and much of the superficial graffiti have already been removed. Seven statues and monuments, including the Cenotaph, for which English Heritage has responsibility, were also vandalised. English Heritage advise me that no lasting damage was done to any of their monuments. The graffiti on the Cenotaph were removed in time for the wreath laying ceremony at lunchtime last Thursday by the Danish Resistance Movement.
The Metropolitan police advise me that damage was also caused to 19 buildings in and around the vicinity of Whitehall, Trafalgar Square and the Strand. Serious damage was caused to McDonald's in Whitehall. I understand that a total of 13 people have been arrested so far for criminal damage, of whom four have been charged.
§ Miss WiddecombeTo 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. StrawI 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 the314W 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.