Members of the public have been temporarily banned from entering the main chamber of the House of Commons after a mobile phone was found hidden there during a routine security sweep, UK Parliament and Metropolitan Police officials said.
The device was discovered shortly before Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday. The Metropolitan Police said officers believe the phone was deliberately placed in a location "with the aim of causing disruption to business in the House" and that an investigation has been launched. Enquiries are ongoing and the Speaker and Clerk of the House have been updated, the force added.
Some media reports said the phone had been placed near the front benches where government ministers sit, though police and parliamentary spokespeople have not publicly confirmed the exact location. A UK Parliament spokesperson said that, "while investigations continue, we have decided to temporarily limit full public tours in both Chambers from Saturday 6 September, until further notice."
The temporary restriction bars members of the public from walking into the main Commons and Lords chambers themselves; parliamentary staff said the ban on chamber access will remain in place "until further notice." The spokesperson did not say whether other visitor access, such as to galleries or remaining parts of the parliamentary estate, would be affected.
Security sweeps are routine before sittings, particularly ahead of high-profile events such as Prime Minister's Questions, when the chamber and surrounding areas can be busy with politicians, officials and visitors. The Metropolitan Police said its enquiries are continuing and did not provide further details about potential suspects or motives.
Parliamentarians were not immediately reported to have been harmed and the discovery did not prevent Wednesday's parliamentary business from taking place, according to officials. The incident has prompted an internal review of visitor procedures and security protocols, parliamentary sources said, as Westminster staff work with police on the investigation.
The Metropolitan Police statement noted the force had updated parliamentary officials and would provide more information as inquiries progress. No arrests were reported in the initial statement.
The temporary suspension of full public tours marks a precautionary tightening of access to the historic chambers, which have in recent years balanced public engagement and visitor access with evolving security requirements. Parliament did not provide a timeline for when normal access might resume.
Further details about the circumstances of the device's placement and any subsequent investigative findings will be released as the Metropolitan Police and parliamentary authorities update the public.