Police appeal for information after statues targeted during trans rights rally

Sunday 20 April 2025 5:21 pm

The metropolitan police has renewed an attraction for data after seven statues had been daubed with graffiti throughout a trans rights protest in central London on Saturday.

Parliament sq. was densely populated with hundreds of supporters who gathered for what was billed as an “emergency demonstration” days after a Supreme Courtroom ruling on the definition of a girl.

“Fag rights” and a coronary heart had been painted on the banner held by Millicent Fawcett, and “trans rights are human rights” was sprayed on the pedestal bearing a memorial to South African army chief and statesman Jan Christian Smuts.

Plans are beneath strategy to take away the graffiti, however specialist tools will have to be introduced in, the power stated.

A lot of the graffiti appeared to have been cleaned off on Sunday, however some writing might nonetheless be seen on the Viscount Palmerston statue, with the Smuts memorial wrapped in plastic sheeting.

The sq. is house to 12 statues of political figures together with Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln and Mahatma Gandhi.

No arrests have been made, however officers are investigating, Scotland Yard stated.

Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell, who led the policing operation for the protest, stated: “Legal harm and vandalism like this has no place on the streets of London and spoils the realm for locals and people visiting.

“Whereas the police assist the general public’s proper to protest, criminality like that is mindless and unacceptable.

“We’re pursuing this and can take motion in opposition to these accountable.

“Working with the better London authority, plans are beneath strategy to take away the graffiti however this requires specialist tools and we’re assured this will likely be finished shortly.

“We’re eager to talk to those that noticed something on the day and urge anybody with data, photos or footage to return ahead.”

Officers are additionally coping with a lot of complaints from the general public about indicators and pictures shared on social media that had been reportedly displayed on the protest, the Met stated.

To this point, the pictures and indicators are from historic occasions, “didn’t happen in London, or don’t represent a felony offence”, the power added.

Activists on the demonstration demanded “trans liberation” and “trans rights now”, with some waving flags and holding banners as they marched in direction of St James’s Park.

In a long-awaited judgment delivered on Wednesday, the UK’s highest court docket confirmed the phrases “lady” and “intercourse” within the 2010 Equality Act “consult with a organic lady and organic intercourse”.

By George Lithgow, PA