A handout photo by Take Back Power on December 6, 2025, shows supporters of the civil resistance group holding a banner reading 'Democracy has crumbled - Tax The Rich' after they smothered dessert and custard over the case containing the Crown Jewels, at the Tower of London. Photo: AFP photo / Take Back Power / Handout
A Waikato police officer found himself at the centre of the custard and fruit crumble attack on the Crown Jewels by protesters at the Tower of London.
Senior Constable Mark Strongman, a former police negotiator and member of the police for nearly three decades, arrested four people after he heard a commotion.
"I walked up to the two female suspects and introduced myself, informing them that I was arresting them for criminal behaviour and advised them of their rights," he said.
"I took an oath to the Crown so I figured my arrests procedures would stick.
Strongman, who was on holiday, said he heard a commotion going on ahead of him at the Tower and then saw that something had been thrown over a display case.
"One was in possession of a backpack so I was concerned about what could be in there so quickly removed that and waited with the females until the Metropolitan Police officers arrived.
"As you can imagine, the whole place shuts down when the Crown Jewels are at risk, some very thick steel doors slammed closed."
He said his wife Carmen and brother and sister-in-law were ahead and had no idea what was happening.
He said he just "dropped straight back into work mode".
The group Take Back Power said its supporters smothered the custard dessert over the display case. Photo: Screengrab / Take Back Power
The group responsible, Take Back Power, said two supporters smothered the dessert over the case containing the Crown Jewels to demand the establishment of a permanent citizen's assembly with the power to tax extreme wealth and "fix Britain".
Take Back Power describes itself as a new nonviolent civil-resistance group.
After the display cabinet was defaced two supporters held a sign that said 'Democracy has crumbled - tax the rich'.
"Our political class, be it this government, Reform or Tory, serve the super-rich; they do not care about working people," the group said in a statement on their website.
"That's why we must demand real democracy, with ordinary people at the heart of decision making, through a citizen-led assembly that has the power to tax the rich."
One of those involved, 21-year-old Miriam Cranch, said wealth inequality was leading towards civil unrest.
"Britain is broken because the super rich are pocketing billions, whilst working people struggle to get by," she said.
"Billionaires should not pay a lower tax rate on wealth they generate doing nothing, than those of us working jobs. It's time ordinary people get a say on how to tax wealth with a permanent House of the People."
Metropolitan Police officers arrested four people and have sent thanks to Strongman for his work.
According to police, the Met acknowledged his timely intervention and use of his police skills in detaining the suspects, which assisted in ensuring there was no further damage to the Crown Jewels and the Tower of London was able to remain open to the public.
Strongman is continuing a holiday around Europe and is due to return to New Zealand before Christmas to his role as member of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Team.
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