The LGA has published a toolkit to help keep councillors safe
The LGA’s Debate Not Hate campaign aims to raise public awareness of the vital role councillors play in local democracy, promote healthy debate, and improve responses to the challenges they encounter.
Serving in public office is both a privilege and a responsibility, yet it comes with its share of challenges, which can include abuse and harassment from the public.
In England, 43 per cent of candidates in the May 2024 local elections reported experiencing some kind of abuse or intimidation, with 10 per cent describing it as ‘serious’, according to disturbing new research from the Electoral Commission.
The issue was particularly severe among women candidates, with 56 per cent saying they avoided campaigning alone (compared with 19 per cent of men) and nearly half that they avoided discussing controversial topics to keep safe (20 per cent for men).
While it’s important to protect freedom of speech, there is growing concern surrounding the negative impact such behaviour can have on individuals, their families, and the integrity of local democracy.
Council officers, alongside political parties and other local agencies, play a crucial role in creating a culture of respect and support that enables councillors to carry out their duties effectively and safely.
The LGA’s ‘Ending abuse in public life council self-assessment toolkit’ is designed to aid local councils in tackling and mitigating the impact and risks of abuse and intimidation that councillors may encounter as part of their role, supporting them to be safe. Its primary objective is to guide councils in assessing their role and efforts to prevent and respond to abuse and intimidation against councillors.
The toolkit acknowledges the distinct roles and responsibilities held by councillors, councils and police in addressing instances of abuse and intimidation. It is crucial to acknowledge and understand the diverse spheres of influence within which each entity operates and that there are limitations to their ability to address certain issues alone.
By understanding their unique sphere of influence and collaborating with other stakeholders, councils can work towards meaningful solutions for many of these challenges. As such, this toolkit is designed to be realistic and flexible in its implementation.
The toolkit was developed by a specialist abuse and harm-reduction consultancy organisation, which worked closely with the LGA and a sounding group of council officers, and consulted with several national police colleagues.
It offers a structured and practical approach to implementing five principles outlined in the LGA’s 2023 ‘Debate Not Hate: ending abuse in public life for councillors’ report. The principles are about creating supportive and informed spaces, a risk-led approach, infrastructure, connections, and a culture of safety and respect. These principles are interconnected, with each component reinforcing the others.
For instance, managing and responding to risks effectively relies on having robust policies and processes in place, such as those outlined in the ‘infrastructure’ section. Collaboration with external agencies, such as the police, as emphasised in ‘creating connections’, is essential to implement these measures effectively.
By recognising these interdependencies and ensuring cohesive implementation, councils can help prevent and mitigate the impact of abuse and intimidation.
The toolkit is designed to give councils a flexible framework for tackling these issues: it does not prescribe a one-size-fits-all approach,
By adopting a flexible and inclusive approach, councils can use the toolkit in a way that works for them, to create a safer and more supportive environment for councillors.
- The Debate Not Hate toolkit is free to download. To find out more, please visit the LGA’s Debate Not Hate campaign
