London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – A survey found that more than a fifth of councillors have received death threats or violence threats.
The survey has been unleashed by the Local Government Association (LGA) before its annual conference next week. It is calling for more to be done to enhance councillors’ safety. Of the 1,734 people who answered nearly 10% of all councillors in England and Wales around half (49%) expressed the abuse had got more destructive over the past 12 months, while 73% had undergone abuse or intimidation in their function in the past year.
What are the main concerns raised by councillors?
Councillors expressed that high levels of abuse, threats and misinformation online had placed them off utilising social media or engaging in debate. The survey also discovered that One in 10 councillors had someone come to their house in a way that they considered harsh or inappropriate, and 43% had asked to withhold their home address from the people because of safety concerns. Ten per cent had obtained a threat of damage to their belongings, and 5% had experienced damage to belongings. Eleven per cent stated they had considered modifications to their residence security but had been incapable of making them for financial or personal reasons.
What measures can enhance councillor safety?
The LGA is urging the government to enhance councillors’ safety, including by letting them withhold their addresses from publication and by installing a permanent cross-Whitehall unit to monitor, evaluate and address the abuse and oppression of locally elected politicians and candidates.
Marianne Overton, the head of the LGA’s civility in public life steering group, stated: “These results are alarming not only do they underline the concerns for the safety and wellbeing of councillors but show how brutality and intimidation can be sarcastic to our democracy, as they prevent people from taking up public office and from talking fairly on vital issues.
“People must be able to represent their communities safely and without fear. We require cohesive communities that can discuss differences in peace. Poor behaviour doesn’t just affect the individual, it hurts everyone in communities, lessening the opportunity for open debate on important local issues. This has got to quit.
“We need the administration to act decisively to ensure high levels of vitriol do not become an accepted part of public life and that councillors are secure and confident as they carry out their vital elected role: performing to represent their communities.”