More than a fifth of city council members have received death threats or threats of violence, the survey found.
The survey was released by the Local Government Association (LGA) ahead of its annual conference next week. We are calling for more efforts to improve the safety of members of Congress.
Of the 1,734 people who responded (approximately 10% of all MPs in England and Wales), almost half (49%) said the abuse had worsened in the past 12 months, and 73% had experienced abuse or intimidation in the past. I answered that I did. year.
Councilors also said they were discouraged from using social media and participating in online discussions because of the amount of abuse, threats and misinformation they saw online.
The study also found:
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One in 10 city councilors have had someone come to their home in a way they considered intimidating or inappropriate, and 43% They had requested that their home address not be published due to safety concerns.
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10% had received threats to damage property and 5% had experienced damage to property. 11% said they had considered making changes to their home security but were unable to do so for financial or personal reasons.
The LGA will require the government to block the publication of MPs' addresses, and establish a permanent cross-Whitehall unit to monitor, assess and deal with abuse and intimidation of locally elected politicians and candidates. calls for improved safety.
Marianne Overton, chair of the council's Decency in Public Life Steering Group, said: “These findings are alarming. Not only do they highlight concerns for the safety and well-being of MPs, but they also raise concerns about violence and intimidation, which prevent people from holding public office and having a fair say on important issues. It shows how it can undermine our democracy.”
“People must be able to represent their communities safely and without fear. We need a united community where differences can be peacefully discussed. Inappropriate behavior not only affects individuals; It hurts everyone in the community and reduces the opportunity to openly discuss important local issues. This has to stop.
“The Government needs to take decisive action to ensure that high levels of abuse are no longer an accepted part of public life and that MPs can carry out their important elected roles of representing their communities safely and confidently. We need to act.”
