Police say 44 Just Stop Oil activists have been charged after disruption in London on Monday.

The charges include two people who allegedly smashed the glass cover of a painting once famously slashed by a suffragette at the National Gallery, the Metropolitan Police said.

They have been charged with causing criminal damage.

On Monday, police made around 100 arrests in Whitechapel as activists took part in a slow march, some of which was held around the Cenotaph.

The campaign group was accused of targeting the war memorial – which it strongly denied, saying activists had been moved to its base by police officers after shutting down traffic on the road.

In a statement on Wednesday, police said: “We are removing officers from communities to police these demonstrations.

“Ultimately, it’s Londoners who are bearing the brunt and cost of their actions.”

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The latest charges bring the total number of Just Stop Oil activists charged since 30 October to 98, and 219 arrested, the Met said.

The climate change group is calling on the government to stop all new gas and oil projects in the UK.

It is currently carrying out a four-week campaign of demonstrations.

On 1 November, 35 people were arrested after marching down West Cromwell Road in Kensington, and a further 60 were arrested in Parliament Square two days before, on 30 October.

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