Big Ben climb cost taxpayers £67,000, court told

A pro-Palestine protester's climb up Big Ben cost the British taxpayer an estimated £67,000, a court has heard.

Daniel Day, 30, of Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, is accused of scaling the Elizabeth Tower at about 07:20 GMT on 8 March last year and remaining there until after midnight.

He denies intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance.

Southwark Crown Court heard that tours of Parliament were cancelled, roads were closed and emergency services were deployed as authorities responded to the incident.

Alison Giles, parliament's director of security, said it was a "significant incident to manage", involving emergency services and a cherry picker carrying a police negotiator.

"We had to take the decision to stop all visits," she said.

"On a Saturday we will have thousands of visitors to Parliament.

"All of our security personnel and all the police were very much focused on the security incident."

Giles said the estimated financial impact was £67,000, adding that "ultimately it is (a cost to) the British taxpayer because those funds are used to offset the running costs of the Houses of Parliament".

More than 2,500 visits to Parliament, mostly by tourists, were stopped, the court was told.

Authorities and onlookers were concerned the protester might fall, and mattresses were placed at the base of the tower.

Police closed Bridge Street, Westminster Bridge, parts of the Embankment and sections of Parliament Square during the incident.

Clint Robertson, of Transport for London, said bus diversions and route curtailments also resulted in an estimated £25,000 loss in fares.

The trial continues.

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