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Man sneaks into Houses of Parliament and 'gets drunk' in Commons bar

He has been sectioned under the Mental Health Act

Matt Payton
Wednesday 02 March 2016 12:55 GMT
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Houses of Parliament in Westminster, central London
Houses of Parliament in Westminster, central London (Getty)

Officials are investigating claims a man sneaked into the Houses of Parliament and got "roaring drunk".

The 29-year-old man evaded police security at the Carriage gates entrance and entered the Palace of Westminster via the underground car park on 22 February, the Sun reports.

He proceeded to break into the Moncreiff bar where he was allegedly discovered drunk by police at 7:30am.

As a result of the incident, a Police Constable from the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command has been reassigned to other duties - Met Police confirm.

The man has been bailed and sectioned under Section 2 of the Mental Health Act.

According to the Sun, before breaking into the press bar, he made himself a cup of coffee in a third floor office.

In a statement, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: "At around 07:30hrs on Monday, 22 February a man was arrested within the House of Commons for trespass on a protected site, a breach of SOCPA.

"The man, 29, was taken to a central London police station where he was further arrested for burglary of the Moncrieff bar for journalists at the House of Commons.

"The man has now been bailed to a date to be confirmed pending further enquiries and sectioned under Section 2 of the Mental Health Act.

"Enquiries into the circumstances continue."

A Commons spokesperson said: "Parliament is working closely with the police on their investigation and we cannot comment further while this is ongoing."

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