Monday 01 July 2019 12:04 pm

Crimes in parliament soar by almost 50 per cent in last two years

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 15: A police car sits parked outside the Houses of Parliament following yesterday morning's incident, which is being investigated by terror police on August 15, 2018 in London, England. 29-year-old Salih Khater was named by police today as the man arrested on suspicion of terror offences after he crashed his car outside the Houses of Parliament injuring cyclists and pedestrians. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images)

Crimes committed within the parliamentary estate in Westminster have soared by almost 50 per cent in the last two years, according to new data revealed today.

Among the most commonly committed offences were assault, robbery, blackmail and drug possession, figures Sky News acquired from the Metropolitan Police showed.

In total, there were 578 crimes reported between 2016 and 2018, including a steep increase in threatening letters to MPs.

More than 100 letters were reported to police with an intention to cause distress in 2018 alone, up from 39 in 2016.

It comes amid fears MPs are being increasingly targeted over Brexit, while there have been several protests as well.

There was also one report of blackmail, six reports of common assault, two reports of causing actual bodily harm, and one report of drunk and disorderly behaviour.

There were a further three reports of drug possession, with one involving cocaine and two involving cannabis.

In the wake of the sexual harassment allegations and bullying within Parliament in 2017, there were a total of 11 reports of harassment, including four last year.

Following the death of PC Keith Palmer during the 2017 terror attack on Westminster bridge, there was a report of murder.

While there were also singular reports of false imprisonment, stalking and outraging public decency.

Theft of personal property was reported on five separate occasions as crime rates on the estate continue to rise.

In total, there were 163 crimes reported in 2016, up to 179 in 2017 and 236 in 2018.

The Freedom of Information request filed by Sky News was not responded to for three months, despite any public body’s requirement to provide a response within 20 working days.

It comes after more than 50 MPs wrote to the Met Police’s commissioner expressing concerns of the “deteriorating public order and security situation” outside parliament.

The parliamentary estate is comprised of the Palace of Westminster as well as other properties like Portcullis House and the Norman Shaw Buildings where there a number of office spaces occupied by MPs and staff.

A parliamentary spokesman said: “Parliament works closely with the police and others to ensure that a range of measures are in place to maintain the highest possible levels of safety and security for everyone on the parliamentary estate.”