In the Media

Drugs, death threats, assaults and stolen Bibles: Parliament's crime spree revealed

PUBLISHED May 15, 2012
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The list of reported crimes included the theft of Bibles worth £90 from Portcullis House, where MPs have their offices, and the taking of a £250 floral arrangement from the House of Lords.

Of the 101 crimes reported on the Parliament Estate between January 2011 and March 2012, 76 were thefts including thousands of pounds worth of laptops, ipads, mobile telephones and electronics. In total £46,922.55 of goods were stolen.

Read the full list of crimes below

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But the offences also included more serious crimes including a death threat and a bomb threat in the Palace of Westminster in 2011.

There was one case of possession of cannabis at Parliament's Cromwell Green entrance.

The same entrance saw police investigate the possession of an imitation firearm and a bladed weapon.

There were five instances of assault and three cases under the Public Order Act.

Earlier this year, David Burrowes, MP for Enfield Southgate, said he had received a death threat after campaigning against the inclusion of same-sex unions in the definition of marriage.

Writing for the Daily Telegraph, he said: "As an MP I have broad shoulders and will not be intimidated by threats in expressing my views."

There were also seven reports of malicious communications being received, and one report of harassment in the Palace of Westminster.

In August, Corby MP Louise Mensch confirmed she had contacted police over emails in which her children had been threatened.

The mother-of-three tweeted: "I've contacted the police via the House of Commons and the email is with them now. I don't bully easily, kids. Or in fact at all."

Twitter: Louise Mensch - I've contacted the police via the House of Commons and the email is with them now. I don't bully easily, kids. Or in fact at all.

Frank Zimmerman, who was convicted of sending threatening emails to Mrs Mensch, said he has no memory of doing it and claimed it might have been done by a computer hacker.

Other offences on Parliamentary grounds included two incidents of criminal damage to cars, the theft of a £1,700 Rolex watch, a stolen pair of glasses, a medal and the theft of a passport.

Photographs worth £400 and casks of beer were taken from the House of Commons, two silver teapots went missing from the House of Lords.

The theft of a £5 puncture repair kit was also reported from the House of Commons. A trolley valued at £300 was taken from Norman Shaw North, another building used by the Commons.

Sixteen of the crimes were reported in the first three months of 2012, while 85 took place in 2011.

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