Medway councillors tell of abuse and threats facing them
Some councillors have had petrol poured through their letter box
We're hearing how councillors in Medway have had broken glass put through door as well petrol poured through their letter box.
It follows a survey by the Local Government Association (LGA) which found over over a fifth of councillors have received a death threat or a threat of violence.
Gareth Myton is a councillor for Fort Pitt.
He explains why social media can be a big issue..
"People aren't with you direct, aren't speaking to you over the phone, aren't sat five feet across from you, so are more willing to say something abusive.
"And because of social media, are basically egged on by other people."
He explains how negativity can escalate on social media.
"What might start as a vaguely moany comment for a particular reason, will then, after more and more comments on that social media post, get into the realms of aggression and threats."
Gareth says councillor are human beings like everyone else.
"People just need to be better at thinking, 'would I be comfortable, in saying what I've said to that person, if I were sat in a surgery with them.
"And the answer is probably not."
The survey by the LGA also found 23 per cent of councillors have suffered abuse serious enough to report to the police.
Around half of respondents (49 per cent) said they felt the abuse had got worse over the past 12 months, and 73 per cent of councillors experienced abuse or intimidation in their role in the past year.