Eight in ten councillors reported experiencing intimidation or abuse in their role in last year, finds LGA

A survey by the Local Government Association (LGA) has found that the number of local councillors who have reported feeling at risk in their role due to rising levels of abuse and intimidation has increased to a “new high” in the last year.

The survey, conducted in June 2023, found that 81% of councillors reported experiencing intimidation and/or abuse in their role as a councillor in the last year, which is an 8% increase from the year before.

Furthermore, 82% said they felt at risk “at least some of the time” whilst fulfilling their role, up from 73% last year.

At its Annual Conference in Bournemouth this week, the LGA warned that a rise in abuse is “preventing councillors from representing the communities they serve, deterring individuals from standing for election and undermining local democracy”.

The survey also found that:

• 54% of councillors have seen abuse aimed at them increase since they were first elected, with 31% seeing a ‘sharp increase’.
• Over the last year, the number of councillors who said they experienced abuse frequently has doubled and the number saying they never experienced abuse reduced from 27% to 19%.

A number of respondents also highlighted that the use of social media has increased the level of abuse aimed at councillors, with some members of the public “behaving in a way online that they would not do so in person”, the survey revealed.

The LGA noted that councils had warned that current policing approaches are “inconsistent, under-resourced and vary too much from place to place”.

“Councils are urging the Government to ensure that the experience of councillors on social media is considered in any new Ofcom guidance mandated by the Online Safety Bill”, it said.

Cllr Marianne Overton, Chair of the LGA’s Civility in Public Life Steering Group, said: “Abuse and intimidation aimed at local councillors is completely unacceptable and it is deeply concerning that this survey suggests that this is a problem that is growing. If left unaddressed, it risks forcing good councillors out of local politics altogether.

“Robust debate and scrutiny are critical parts of a healthy democracy, ensuring people are able to express their views and that people in public life are held to account.

“However, there is a clear line between debate and abuse, which should not be crossed."

She added: “To help tackle this issue, the Government and Ofcom should take steps to ensure that harmful and abusive behaviour does not continue unrestricted online as well as working with the police to develop clearer guidance on tackling the abuse of locally elected members.”

The findings of the survey form part of the LGA’s Debate Not Hate campaign, launched last year.

793 councillors in England and Wales responded to the survey.

Lottie Winson