What is behind the surge in crimes reported in Parliament?

Crimes reported in the Houses of Parliament have soared by nearly 50% in the last two years, reports Sky News.

According to figures released by the Metropolitan Police under the Freedom of Information Act, a total of 578 crimes were reported on the parliamentary estate between 2016 and 2018.

During 2018, reported offences included six of common assault, two of causing actual bodily harm, and one of blackmail. There was also one report of cocaine possession, two of cannabis possession and one of drunk and disorderly behaviour.

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The Metropolitan Police said it received four reports of harassment in 2018, four in 2017 and three in 2016.

As public divisions and tension over Brexit rise, there was a dramatic rise in threatening letters being received by MPs. There were 101 reports of letters being sent with the intent to cause distress in 2018 - more than double the figure for 2016 (39) and up from 72 reports in 2017.

The news comes months after more than 50 MPs wrote to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner to express their “serious concerns” about the “deteriorating public order and security situation” outside parliament.

The letter criticised a “lack of co-ordination” in the response from the police and appropriate authorities despite assurances that incidents outside parliament would be dealt with.

In one infamous incident, Tory MP Anna Soubry, a prominent Remain campaigner, was branded a “Nazi” by protesters during live TV interviews.

Labour MP Yasmin Qureshi said: “I'm sure this high spike is linked with the Brexit issue which has been very toxic.

“I mean our post bags and emails... we're constantly being told, you're not following the will of the people, you're being traitors.”

The revelations were released belatedly. Sky News sent a freedom of information request to the Metropolitan Police on 1 March asking for details of crimes reported on the parliamentary estate since 2016.

Although under the Freedom of Information Act, the police should have answered within 20 working days, they postponed their response for three months.

The Met eventually answered the request on 27 June but only after the Information Commissioner's Office had warned the force it could held in contempt of court if it continued to fail to respond.