"Heightened security measures were introduced in the Commons after the phone was found. Audio and guided tours were cancelled and there was reduced access to the Commons chamber. The House of Lords took the same decision to reduce access to the Lords Chamber as a precautionary measure. Enquiries remain ongoing and we continue to keep the speaker and clerk of the house up to date with our investigation, the spokesperson said."
"The incident is being treated seriously as it represents a major breach of parliamentary security. The phone was found while hundreds of security staff based in Westminster were on strike over pay and conditions. As a result, visitors were banned from the parliamentary estate. The Public and Commercial Services Union said the strike went ahead because of the reduction of annual leave entitlements, stagnant pay and an ethnicity pay gap."
"Enquiries led officers to believe that the phone was purposely placed in a location with the aim of causing disruption to business in the house. A man in his 30s was arrested on Friday 5 September on suspicion of attempting to intentionally cause a public nuisance. Another man in his 60s was arrested on Tuesday 30 September on suspicion of the same offence. Both have been bailed to return at a later date."
A mobile phone was found during a routine sweep of the House of Commons chamber and believed to be placed deliberately to cause disruption. The phone was reportedly intended to play sex noises to interrupt prime minister's questions between Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch. Two men — one in his 30s and one in his 60s — were arrested on suspicion of attempting to intentionally cause a public nuisance and have been bailed to return. Heightened security measures were introduced, including cancelling audio and guided tours and reducing access to both Commons and Lords chambers. Security staff were on strike, prompting visitor bans; enquiries remain ongoing.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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