Police Investigate Vandalism of Seven Statues During London Trans Rights Protest

Seven statues in London's Parliament Square, including those of suffragette Millicent Fawcett and Jan Christian Smuts, were defaced with graffiti during a large trans rights rally held in response to a recent Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of a woman. The Metropolitan Police, who were present but did not witness the vandalism, have launched an investigation and are reviewing CCTV footage, urging anyone with information to come forward. Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell condemned the damage as senseless and unacceptable, affirming that while protest is supported, criminal acts will not be tolerated. The graffiti included slogans such as 'trans rights are human rights' and other phrases referencing LGBTQ+ rights. Officers are also investigating complaints about protest signs and images circulated on social media but report that, so far, these have not constituted criminal offenses or occurred at this event. No arrests have been made, and removal of the graffiti will require specialist equipment.