Security review follows riots

Jack Straw: Cenotaph attack was "particularly shocking"

Government ministers are to look at preventing any repeat of the violence which broke out during May Day anti-capitalism protests in London.

Several people suspected of taking part in the destruction, which saw shops looted and monuments defaced, will come before Horseferry Road magistrates on Wednesay.

Two of the 97 arrested over the trouble have already been given short jail terms after appearing in court on Tuesday.

In a Commons statement, Home Secretary Jack Straw condemned the scenes as "inexcusable and shameful".

What was witnessed in central London yesterday was criminality and thuggery masquerading as political protest

Jack Straw

Earlier, Tony Blair said the government would be considering its approach to future demonstrations.

He said: "It's right to say these were appalling and totally unnecessary actions. This kind of thing cannot happen again."

Nine police officers were hurt during the protest around Parliament Square and Whitehall in central London.

A statue of Sir Winston Churchill was defaced

Protesters looted shops, smashed car windows and hurled bricks and bottles.

It is thought the bill for repairing the damage and paying for the emergency services could come to £500,000, with police overtime estimated by Mr Straw at £3m.

Police inquiry

The home secretary said: "What was witnessed in central London yesterday was criminality and thuggery masquerading as political protest.

"In our democracy there is neither reason nor excuse for such appalling behaviour."

He said the commissioner of the Metropolitan Police would be reviewing the incident and the government would respond to any recommendations he makes.

But he dismissed Conservative accusations that police chiefs should have acted sooner - particularly to prevent graffiti being daubed on the Cenotaph and a statue of Winston Churchill.

Shadow Home Secretary Ann Widdecombe said there was "concern about the amount of activity and disorder that was allowed to take place before the police decided it was the proper time for intervention".

But police chiefs have defended the way they dealt with what Mr Straw said was "a very, very difficult situation".

He said police had decided that handling the situation differently could have seen violence spreading across the West End.

'Huge affront'

Prime Minister Tony Blair said earlier that defacing the Cenotaph and the statue of Winston Churchill was "simply beneath contempt".

He said: "Without the sacrifice of millions who gave their lives to defend our freedoms, no one yesterday would have been enjoying any right to protest at all."

The home secretary there was no excuse for such "appalling" behaviour

But organisers of the protest said "the abhorrence of sending millions of men to their deaths in the trenches dwarfs the stupidity of any possible slogan on any possible piece of stone".

John Jordan, an activist from Reclaim The Streets, read out a statement from the organisation at a news conference.

It said: "We respect and celebrate all those people who are, and have been, prepared to stand up to fascism, imperialism and dictatorship.

"That said, we do not necessarily celebrate the generals and the ruling class that sends people to their deaths in order to protect the privileges and control of the few."