Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to prevent vandalism on war memorials.

The Government is committed to protecting war memorials from vandalism and disrespect. Causing criminal damage to such memorials is a serious offence, carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment.

The Crime and Policing Bill introduces an additional new offence of climbing on specified memorials without a lawful excuse, including the Cenotaph in Whitehall and the statue of Sir Winston Churchill in Parliament Square, reinforcing our efforts to safeguard these important sites.

It is a matter of deep regret that His Majesty’s Official Opposition chose to vote against these measures at the Third Reading of the Crime and Policing Bill on 18 June.