Elected representatives and candidates to be given named police contact for security matters

All elected representatives and candidates are to have a dedicated named police contact to liaise with on security matters, the Home Office has announced.

It said the move was part of a £31m investment to protect democratic processes from disruption.

“The investment will be used to enhance police capabilities, increase private sector security provisions for those facing a higher risk, and to expand cyber security advice to locally elected representatives,” the Home Office added.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said: “The Government will take every possible step to safeguard the people, processes and institutions upon which our democracy relies.

“I take the safety and security of all members of the House with the utmost seriousness. None of us should have to accept that enduring hate crimes, harassment, or threats is part of the job.

“I will continue to work closely with my police counterparts to provide elected representatives with the support they need.”

Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said: “Over the past few weeks we’ve seen disgraceful attempts to intimidate MPs and undermine our democratic processes.

“That behaviour is a threat to our democracy, and toxic for our society.

“We will do whatever is necessary to protect those who’ve been elected to represent their local communities, and to defend our democratic freedoms.”

As part of the additional funding, a new communities fund will be established to support the deployment of additional police patrols each week in England and Wales.  

Local police forces will be able to draw upon the fund to surge policing presence in local areas in response to specific events, the Home Office said. “This will increase support available to vulnerable communities, bolstering police visibility, and increasing public confidence.”

Responding to the Home Office announcement, Cllr Marianne Overton, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Civility in Public Life Steering Group, said: “We are pleased the Government has taken steps to provide improved protections for elected officials in light of a concerning rise in levels of abuse and that locally elected representatives will have dedicated police support for security matters for the first time. This is something we have long called for.

“Our recent analysis showed that eight out 10 councillors felt personally at risk while fulfilling their elected role last year, up 10% from the year before.

“It is profoundly disturbing to hear of reports of councillors being harassed and intimidated whilst doing their job. It should not become the norm that councillors need to install CCTV and panic alarms in their houses to feel safe whilst fulfilling their democratic duty.

Cllr Overton added: “We want to work with the Government to help take much needed steps to protect local councillors whilst they fulfil their democratic duty. This includes ending the legal obligation for a council to publish a councillor’s home address and providing greater police protection for local representatives.

“We must end abuse in public life and encourage healthy debate if we are to safeguard the future of our local democracy.”