Seven statues in Parliament Square, including one of women\u2019s rights campaigner Dame Millicent Fawcett, were vandalised during a protest on Saturday, 19 April.<\/p>\n
The protest, held by transgender campaigners, was in response to a Supreme Court ruling made on Wednesday which stated that biological sex defines a woman under the Equality Act.<\/p>\n
The ruling means that, according to the head of Britain\u2019s equalities watchdog, trans women can be excluded from female-only toilets, changing rooms, and women\u2019s sports.<\/p>\n
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that seven statues were damaged and are investigating the incidents as criminal damage. No arrests have been made so far.<\/p>\n
One of the defaced statues was of former South African prime minister Jan Smuts, which was graffitied with the words \u201ctrans rights are human rights\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Supreme Court ruling stated that transgender women with a gender recognition certificate can be excluded from single-sex spaces if \u201cproportionate\u201d. Judges unanimously ruled that the terms \u201cwoman\u201d and \u201csex\u201d in the 2010 Equality Act \u201crefer to a biological woman and biological sex\u201d rather than \u201ccertificated sex\u201d.<\/p>\n
Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell, who led the policing operation for the protest, said:
\u201cCriminal damage and vandalism like this has no place on the streets of London and spoils the area for locals and those visiting.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile the police support the public\u2019s right to protest, criminality like this is senseless and unacceptable. We are pursuing this and will take action against those responsible.<\/p>\n
\u201cWorking with the Greater London Authority (GLA) plans are underway to remove the graffiti but this requires specialist equipment and we are confident this will be done shortly.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are keen to speak to those who saw anything on the day and urge anyone with information, pictures or footage to come forward. Please call 101, quoting 01\/7396927\/25.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Met Police are also dealing with a number of complaints from the public about signs and images that were reportedly displayed at the protest and shared on social media.<\/p>\n
Officers said that the signs in question appear to be from historic events, did not take place in London, or do not constitute a criminal offence. However, all available footage of the protest is being reviewed and action will be taken if any signs are found to breach the law.<\/p>\n