PROTESTERS who climb on war memorials will face jail and a £1,000 fine in a bid to crack down on pro-Palestine demos.
Home Secretary James Cleverly said the new measures are intended to punish “a small minority” of activists who insult “those who paid the ultimate price for their freedom to protest”.
Mr Cleverly said: “Peaceful protest is fundamental in our country, but climbing on our war memorials is an insult to these monuments and remembrance and cannot continue.”
The move, which includes three-month prison sentences, comes after protesters climbed on the Royal Artillery Memorial last November.
Footage showed flag-waving protesters chanting “free Palestine” as they clambered over the memorial.
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Rishi Sunak called the demonstration an “affront to our armed forces.”
Mr Cleverly, who served in the Royal Artillery, described it as ”deeply disrespectful” and suggested laws could be changed to give police powers to prevent protesters from clambering over war memorials.
An amendment is due to be introduced to the Criminal Justice Bill that will make climbing on memorials a specific public order offence in England and Wales.
It is part of a wider plan to tackle disorder at protests, to be announced by ministers this week.
