Item 7 - Personal Safety for Councillors (18/22E)

Summary
 
This report presents to the Executive for consideration proposals for pan—London work by London Councils to address several issues identified by members regarding councillors’ safety.
Recommendations
 
Given the increasing risk to councillors’ personal safety, it is recommended that:
 
London Councils lobbies the government on introducing legislation to remove the current legal requirement for councillors to have their home address published in the online register of interests and the copy of the register which is available for public inspection - in line with the recommendations of the Committee on Standards in Public life.
In the interim, those London Local authorities who have yet to do so may wish to consider introducing a general principle of withholding the home addresses of their councillors from the online register of interests and the copy of the register which is available for public inspection; or offer their members the choice without the requirement for them to identify a specific threat of violence and/or intimidation.
London Borough Returning Officers are requested to highlight to candidates in the forthcoming and future local elections that they have the option to withhold their home address from the ballot paper, the Statement of Persons nominated and the Notice of Poll.
London Councils identifies, shares and promotes best practice guidance that has been produced by London authorities and others on personal safety for councillors to assist other London boroughs in developing their own programmes.
London Councils engages with the Metropolitan Police Service through existing structures and relationships to highlight that reports of harassment and intimidation by councillors have been responded to differently, with the aim of gaining a more consistent and robust response.