Arrest as wine stolen from Parliament

Police investigating a wine theft from the Houses of Parliament have arrested a man on the grounds of the Parliamentary estate for burglary and trespassing.

A 29-year-old man was detained on Monday morning (22 February) before being taken to a London police station where he was further arrested on suspicion of burglary.

The wine was stolen from Moncrieff’s Café Bar at the House of Commons, which is usually frequented by Westminster journalists but is open to all passholders, according to the Parliamentary Yearbook website.

The man was arrested under the Serious Organised Crime Act and the Police Act, which has a special jurisdiction over the Palace of Westminster, the Evening Standard reports.

A Parliamentary spokesperson refused to give a comment to the newspaper.

Westminster Palace has a considerable supply of alcohol to stock its several bars.

As much as £1.4 million worth of alcohol was sold in Westminster between 2012 and 2014, a recent Freedom of Information request revealed.

The most popular drink of choice was wine, with the House of Commons Sauvignon Blanc topping the charts.

Nearly 50,000 bottles of the HoC Sauvignon was sold over the two-year period, followed by the house Merlot at 26,000 bottles.