The tearing down of the Edward Colston statue in Bristol was a "criminal act", Downing Street has said.
The bronze memorial in the College Green area of Bristol had already been the subject of an 11,000-strong petition to have it removed.
But during Black Lives Matter protests in the city on Sunday (June 7) demonstrators pulled down the controversial statue of 17th century slave trader before throwing it into the Bristol harbour.
Number 10 has no condemned the actions and said issues such as the monument to the slave trader should be addressed through democratic processes.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "The PM's view is that in this country, where there is strong opinion, there is a democratic process which should be followed.
"People can campaign for the removal of a statue but what happened yesterday was a criminal act and when the criminal law is broken that is unacceptable and the police will want to hold to account those responsible."
The spokesman added: "The PM absolutely understands the strength of feeling, but in this country we settle our differences democratically and if people wanted the removal of the statue there are democratic routes which can be followed."
Police have already launched an investigation into the incident with Superintendent Andy Bennett of the Bristol, Avon and Somerset police force saying it will be carried out to identify those 'who clearly committed an act of criminal damage'.
Home Secretary Priti Patel has already called the toppling the memorial "utterly disgraceful" while the Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said anti-racism demonstrations that took place over the weekend - in UK cities such as Bristol, London and Manchester - have been 'subverted by thuggery' after some activists clashed with police.
Edward Colston was said to be a merchant in the Royal African Company, which held a monopoly in England in the West African slave trade.
During Colston's time at the company it is estimated to have transported around 84,000 African men women and children as slaves.
