Surrey councillors reveal safety concerns after killing of Sir David Amess
One of them talked about death threats he had received
Last updated 19th Oct 2021
While the world of politics continues to reel from the death of Sir David Amess last week, and with calls for ‘David’s Law’ to protect those in public office from abuse on social media, councillors in Surrey are speaking out about their own experience as part of their position.
We hear from a councillor who received death threats, one borough council leader who feels “six inches taller” having deleted his Twitter account, and the measures that councillors take to ensure they are safe when out door knocking and canvassing.
Paul Spooner, leader of the opposition Conservative group on Guildford Borough Council, said there was a huge increase in the amount of abuse he received when he was leader of the council from 2015-2019.
He said changes to the local plan angered both local residents and some activists from elsewhere and the police became involved after he received death threats.
He, said: “Living in the world we live in, democracy is key. Having access to residents, meeting them in person is absolutely critical to a councillor’s job.
“It’s critical, you’re getting calls very often from householders that have particular issues, and the easiest way to address that, outside of pandemic time, is to go and see them.
“Even with the death threats, it’s never worried me in principle but you’ve always got in the back of your head that it only takes one or one problem or one serious issue and that’s it.
“It got to a point where there were death threats. The police were excellent, they came in, they vetted my property. I had preventative measures put in.
“The council was entirely supportive because the costs of the preventative measures that were put in, and remain in, are actually covered by the council.”
Joss Bigmore, Leader of Guildford Borough Council and the Residents for Guildford and Villages Party, removed his home address from the council website at his wife’s request.
He said: “We tend to be a pretty robust bunch, but it is also your family and your children that you worry about because there are obviously some quite disturbed people around.
“It’s not just us, it’s friends and family as well that you have to consider and that, for me, is more stressful than my own situation.
“It heightens the appreciation of the sacrifices your family make and the concerns they may have in light of doing what you’re trying to do, which is public service.”
He added: “I know in the past that councillors have received verbal abuse, intimidating behaviour, all manner of things.
“Unfortunately, it’s become part and parcel of the job. Members of my group have expressed concern when things have happened in other places about what could happen to them. It’s made everyone consider their own safety.”
Cllr Bigmore said he deleted his Twitter account last week because of approximately 20 tweets a day being sent his way.
He said: “I genuinely feel like I’m six inches taller.
“Things are hard enough at the moment without it, it’s just not a very nice platform. Every time I went on it, I left in a worse mood and I thought it’s just not worth it anymore.
“You don’t have to agree with everything I do, or everything the council does. But there’s ways to object and then there is what is basically online bullying. I don’t really need it to be honest.
“I get away lightly. I have all the respect in the world for politicians that stay on social media when you see the abuse they get. Some of the some of the things people write about Angela Richardson MP for Guildford are just shocking.
“You don’t have to agree with her politics, but she has been elected. And you can disagree respectfully, I would have thought.”
He said the borough council had begun to gather opinions from councillors on whether they would like personal security training even before the death of Sir David last week.
Kate Chinn, Labour councillor on Epsom and Ewell Borough Council for Court Ward, described Sir David as an “amazing” man, though she did not know him personally but knew of his campaign work on endometriosis.
She said: “Generally as a councillor I feel quite safe. We don’t do surgeries. We door knock instead. We don’t advertise where we’re going.
“It’s out there but for me it has tended to be verbal abuse rather than any fear of physical danger.
“We’re more careful in areas we don’t know. We’ve got measures in place, we listen to what the Labour Party tells us to do and we look out for each other when we’re out.”
Nick Harrison, Residents’ Association group leader on Reigate and Banstead council, highlighted the differences faced by councillors representing the national parties, rather than the local residents’ parties such as his own.
He said: “I think as Residents’ Association councillors we’re quite lucky because our focus is local, we’re not a national party. What I hear coming from Conservative councillors is there are lots of national issues affecting the whole dialogue with Conservative candidates.
“There’s no distinction between local government and national government I think if you are a member of one of the major parties. I don’t think that’s true of residents and independent councillors.
“I think we’re all careful. But I think it affects us much less than the major parties.”
So what are Surrey councils doing about councillor safety?
A Reigate and Banstead Borough Council spokesperson said: “The Council is responsible for the personal safety of anyone, including Councillors, officers, and member of the public, on Council-owned premises during business hours, at events hosted by the Council, or during public meetings held by the Council.
“A security guard is always present at the Town Hall during business hours, at events hosted by the Council, or during public meetings held by the Council.
"There are a range of resources and services available if a Councillor is concerned about their safety.
“This includes support and advice provided by the Council and other agencies/public bodies e.g. political party associations, Local Government Association, Police/Police Community Support Officers.”
An Elmbridge Borough Council spokesperson said: “We assess the risks of any and all formal Council meetings and we review any likely contentious items or possible protests.
"Last year as part of these routine assessments, we increased the level of security in the Civic Centre.
“Since the covid pandemic, we are working on an appointments only basis for Council meetings and we are restricting attendance at those meetings and at our Centres for the Community in order to control infection transmission, but this also enables us to control the number of attendees and the reasons for such attendance.
“As part of their training and induction, our Councillors are provided with personal safety advice and we will be reviewing arrangements for our Councillors so that we can upgrade any measures and re-issue guidance that will help them to minimise their exposure to unplanned approaches or threats to their wellbeing.
“In the past we have always treated threats to any Councillor or officer very seriously and we have relied on our Surrey Police colleagues to follow up on all reported incidents.”
An Epsom & Ewell Borough Council spokesperson said: "Following the very sad events last week we are very mindful of the need to review, with our elected members, the current arrangements to see where improvements in safety and security can be made.
“This is something we take very seriously and will also be looking at guidance and recommendations coming out as a result of the review of this awful incident in the longer term."