The Escalating Abuse Towards Local Government Officials: A Threat to Democracy

The escalating abuse towards local government officials is a growing concern that has put democracy at risk. According to recent reports, the level of abuse towards councillors and staff in local government is unacceptably high, and urgent action is needed to address this issue.

The examples of abuse towards local government officials are alarming. Harassment, stalking, threats, assault, and even dead animals being pushed through letterboxes have become common occurrences. Some councils have put security plans in place to protect their staff, but many councillors have been put off from standing in the next local elections due to the abuse and intimidation they have faced.

The Jo Cox Civility Commission, which calls for a central unit to address the abuse faced by all politicians, has recently warned about the severity of the issue. With around 100,000 councillors in local government at all levels and an even greater number of staff to support them, the impact of this abuse is significant. Councillors are responsible for making decisions about social care, schools, housing, planning, and waste collection, among other things.

Six bodies representing local authorities at all levels in England and Wales have spoken out about the issue, expressing their concern over the high levels of abuse and calling for change. According to a survey conducted by the Local Government Association (LGA), 27% of councillors said they would not stand in the next election, and two-thirds (68%) of respondents said that abuse and intimidation had influenced their position on whether to stand again.

Councillor Marianne Overton, who chairs the LGA’s Civility in Public Life Programme Steering Group, urged the government to introduce legislation that would allow councils to proactively withhold councillors’ home addresses from the public as soon as possible. “If left unaddressed, abuse and intimidation risk forcing good councillors out of local politics altogether,” she said.

One parish clerk who has worked in the East Midlands for a decade shared her harrowing experience of abuse. She started receiving comments that turned into threats, followed by dead animals being left on her doorstep. The most horrific incident involved a dead rat being pushed through her letterbox. Her daughter discovered the rat and was traumatized by the experience. The clerk also shared her experience of being trapped in the council building with two men outside, live streaming to social media and shouting abuse at her.

Research carried out by academics at De Montfort University on behalf of the Association for Public Service Excellence suggests that almost half of councillors have had a serious incident of abuse. Data seen by the BBC shows that 22% of councillors say their local authority received public abuse that was so severe they had to put in place an action plan to ensure someone’s safety.

Labour MP Clive Betts, who chairs the Commons local government committee, called for urgent action before the next set of local elections in May. He urged the government to put in place measures to protect councillors who are suffering from severe abuse before working towards a more comprehensive package.

A government spokesperson acknowledged that intimidation was unacceptable and urged anyone who receives abuse to contact the police. However, many councillors have expressed their frustration with the police’s inability to help, as the law considers the abuse to be political discourse.

Claire Golby, a councillor for nearly a decade, has experienced an online harassment campaign based on conspiracy theories and has found a swastika taped to her car in the past. She no longer does face-to-face surgeries due to her fear of being targeted by abusive individuals. “I don’t want to be Nuneaton’s David Ames or Jo Cox,” she said, referencing two MPs who were murdered in 2016 and 2021, respectively.

Richard McRae, an independent town and district councillor for Stapleford, near Nottingham, shared his experience of receiving abuse that was worse than when he worked as a bouncer. “When I worked on the doors, I had people with machetes, guns, and knuckle dusters,” he said. “But as a councillor, it is personal. It follows you home and it gets to you.”

Other councillors have shared their experiences of receiving death threats and messages specifying how they would be stabbed when they left the office. One councillor was forced to install panic alarms at home due to the relentless abuse. The BBC has also spoken to people in local government in Scotland, who say they have faced abuse aimed at intimidating them and shutting down debate.

Even parish councillors, who administer allotments, street lights, and deal with planning on a local level, have seen abuse. Most of them represent communities of less than 2,500 people. Linda Hedley, general secretary of the Association of Local Council Clerks, shared her concern over the toxic culture in local government. “I’ve had clerks phone me saying, ‘I can’t go into the office, I’m so frightened’,” she said. “I’ve had clerks who have been so harassed, bullied, and frightened that they’ve had nervous breakdowns.”

The culture of toxicity in local government is a misunderstanding of what parish and town councils can and cannot do. The abuse towards local government officials is not only a threat to their personal well-being but also to the democratic process itself. It is crucial that urgent action is taken to address this issue and ensure that good councillors are not driven out of local politics due to abuse and intimidation.

In conclusion, the escalating abuse towards local government officials is a serious issue that puts democracy at risk. The high levels of abuse, including harassment, stalking, threats, assault, and even death threats, have forced many councillors to consider whether they want to continue serving their communities. Urgent action is needed to address this issue and ensure that good councillors are not driven out of local politics due to abuse and intimidation. The government must take steps to protect councillors and staff in local government, including introducing legislation that would allow councils to proactively withhold councillors’ home addresses from the public and providing resources to help councils address abuse and intimidation. It is essential that we work together to create a culture of respect and civility in local government and ensure that our democratic process remains strong and effective.