AssetID: 54725033
Headline: UNCAPTIONED: Government to Make Climbing on Winston Churchill Statue a Criminal Offence
Caption: Government to Make Climbing on Winston Churchill Statue a Criminal Offence. The UK government will soon make it a criminal offence to climb on Winston Churchill's statue in Parliament Square, with offenders facing up to three months in prison and a £1,000 fine. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced that the Churchill statue will be added to the list of monuments protected from desecration, alongside other war memorials. Monuments such as the Cenotaph in Whitehall and the Royal Artillery Memorial in Hyde Park will also be included under the new law. The new law is part of the Crime and Policing Bill, which is currently progressing through Parliament, ensuring better protection for national monuments. Cooper emphasized the importance of respecting the Churchill statue, particularly as the country celebrates VE Day, stating that it deserves the same respect as other war memorials. Winston Churchill, who personally chose the location for his statue, approved the plans for Parliament Square's redevelopment in the 1950s. The 12-foot bronze statue of Churchill, unveiled in 1973 by his widow Clementine, will now be safeguarded under the new law, along with other important historical monuments. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer supported the new protection, stating that Churchill’s statue is a symbol of national pride and that desecrating it insults the memory of Britain’s greatest heroes. The statue has been a target for protests, with incidents of it being sprayed with paint and defaced during May Day protests and Black Lives Matter demonstrations in 2020. Recently, trans rights activists climbed the statue during their protests in April, leading to calls for stronger protections for the monument and other historical sites in Parliament Square. Instructions: THIS VIDEO MUST NOT BE EDITED FOR LENGTH TO COMBINE WITH OTHER CONTENT
Keywords: Current Affairs & Politics,Winston Churchill,statue,criminal offence,desecration,Crime and Policing Bill,VE Day,Parliament Square,Yvette Cooper,Sir Keir Starmer,protest,war memorials,Cenotaph,Royal Artillery Memorial,UK law,UK government,national monuments,policing,crime,historical landmarks,public demonstrations,national pride,public safety,law enforcement
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