Police urged to do more to keep the peace after 'Nazi' abuse against MP

Tory MP Anna Soubry, who was subjected to a series of verbal taunts during a live television interview, accused the Met Police of ignoring abuse directed at politicians and journalists.

More than 50 MPs have written to the force demanding an improved response to abusive protesters, with the letter warning of "the deteriorating public order and security situation" around the College Green area of Westminster.

Emma Reynolds, the Labour MP for Wolverhampton North East, who signed the letter, said: "I'm appalled at the treatment of Anna Soubry, but I'm afraid I am not surprised by it.

"People are not debating the Brexit issue in a respectful way. There is room for free speech, but intimidating people is not acceptable.

"MPs must feel free to express their opinions without suffering threats or intimidation. It has not been long since we lost one of our own in Jo Cox.

"The Met Police need to do more to make sure they are keeping the peace outside Parliament and that MPs, journalists and others working there are not treated in this way."

Labour MP Stephen Doughty coordinated the letter to Met Police chief Cressida Dick.

The cross-party group of MPs – which includes those both for and against Brexit – said many of the concerns had been "repeatedly raised" with officers and senior policing staff.

"We write to express our serious concerns about the deteriorating public order and security situation in and around the exterior of the Parliamentary estate including College Green," it said in the letter.

"After months of peaceful and calm protests by groups representing a range of political views on Brexit, an ugly element of individuals with strong far-right and extreme right connections – which your officers are well aware of – have increasingly engaged in intimidatory and potentially criminal acts targeting Members of Parliament, journalists, activists and members of the public.

"We understand there are ongoing investigations but there appears to be an ongoing lack of coordination in the response from the police and appropriate authorities including with Westminster borough policing – and despite clear assurances this would be dealt with following incidents before Christmas – there have been a number of further serious and well publicised incidents."

Ms Soubry, who has called for a second referendum, said she objected to being called a Nazi, while Sky News presenter Kay Burley said the "increasingly vile, aggressive and intimidating" abuse had forced her to change her route to Parliament and that she now had to have security protection.

The Met Police’s deputy assistant commissioner, Laurence Taylor, had defended the way it polices Parliament, and said officers had been instructed to intervene after they were filmed on Monday standing by while the abuse took place.

Mr Taylor said: “An ongoing policing operation at the parliamentary estate around Brexit continues and we have an appropriate policing plan in place.

"Our role is to facilitate peaceful protest and balance the needs and rights of all those present, including protesters, MPs and members of the public.

“We will deal robustly with incidents of harassment and abuse against anyone where that harassment or abuse constitutes a criminal offence.

“Officers in the area have been briefed to intervene appropriately where they hear or see breaches of the law.”

A Met Police spokesman said: "Police received a third party report of a public order offence on Monday, January 7, in the area of College Green.

"Officers are assessing if any crimes have been committed.

"There has been no arrest at this stage.