Policy background Criminal damage to memorials
There is concern that the current law does not allow the court to deal effectively with cases of criminal damage or desecration of war memorials and other statues. This issue re-emerged during summer 2020 when many statues and memorials were damaged, causing great public concern. Earlier, during the 2019-21 session, backbench MPs asked the Government to support their Desecration of War Memorials Bill intended to introduce a new and specific offence where a person destroys, damages or otherwise desecrates a war memorial. The Government has adopted an alternative approach through section 50 of this Act which amends the Magistrates’ Courts Act 1980 ("the 1980 Act") to remove consideration of monetary value with respect to criminal damage to memorials which would otherwise, in some cases, determine venue and limit sentencing powers. These changes mean the courts can now deal effectively with damage caused to memorials.