A man has been arrested after climbing on scaffolding at the Palace of Westminster.

Officers were called to reports of a man acting suspiciously near Carriage Gates, which is used by MPs to come and go from Parliament, before he climbed over the fence and scaled scaffolding.

Police were later seen on scaffolding near Big Ben, housed in the Elizabeth Tower, which is currently undergoing refurbishment.

A Met Police spokeswoman said: "Police have dealt with a man climbing on the scaffolding at the Palace of Westminster.

"Officers were called at 11.32hrs on Wednesday 30 May to reports of a man acting suspiciously near Carriage Gates, SW1.


"When officers located the man, he climbed over the fence and climbed the scaffolding to the roof of the palace."

A man was arrested for "trespassing on a designated site", the force spokeswoman said.

Image: The Elizabeth Tower is currently undergoing refurbishment

House of Commons officials said they were aware of the incident but were directing all queries to Scotland Yard.

In 2004, police launched a security review after two Greenpeace protesters wearing climbing gear scaled the Elizabeth Tower.

The next year, a Fathers 4 Justice campaigner climbed onto Westminster Hall and unfurled a banner.

In 2009, 30 Greenpeace activists also reached the roof of the Houses of Parliament.

Terrorist Khalid Masood entered Parliament through Carriage Gates before stabbing to death PC Keith Palmer during his attack on Westminster in March last year.