'Deeply disrespectful!' James Cleverly vows law change as fury grows over protesters climbing on war memorial
James Cleverly has vowed to change the law to make it illegal for protesters to climb on war memorials
PA
James Cleverly has vowed to change the law to make it illegal for protesters to climb on war memorials.
Pro-Palestinian protesters were seen climbing on the Royal Artillery Memorial at Hyde Park Corner in central London after last night's protest in Westminster.
The new Home Secretary said he has "made a commitment to review the legislation around public order policing".
Footage circulated online of protesters on the memorial, but the police confirmed in a statement that they had not broken any laws.
WATCH: Pro-Palestinian Protesters climb the Royal Artillery Memorial
The Met Police 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."
The statement added: "Most people would agree that to climb on or otherwise disrespect a war memorial is unacceptable.
"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."
Asked about last night's events, Cleverly said: "We're going to look at this.
"We are absolutely determined to look at this. (Veterans minister) Johnny Mercer, a former gunner officer - the Royal Artillery was my regiment as well, that's my regimental memorial."
Speaking to LBC, the Home Secretary added: "I'm not going to let my personal feelings cloud my judgment on this but it is clearly wrong, and the police have said that they recognise it is deeply disrespectful for people to climb on war memorials.
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The new Home Secretary said he has "made a commitment to review the legislation around public order policing"
PA
"We have made a commitment to review the legislation around public order policing.
"If the police - and I'm going to look at this in real detail - if the police need more powers to make sure that really deeply distasteful, provocative things like that do not happen for the public good, because of course this is about making sure it doesn't stimulate violent action or any kind of violent responses, but if we need to take action specifically to give police more powers, we are looking at doing that."
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