LONDON, March 12 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:
Police will be better equipped toprotectcandidatesfromabuse,intimidation, and violenceunder newmeasures announcedahead of theMaylocal and devolvedelections.
A new national police unit will beestablishedthis monthtotargetoffenders whothreatenand harasselection candidates ahead of the May elections.It will bring together specialist officers and intelligence expertstomonitorreports of abuse from across the country - identifyingrepeat offenders and helping police forcesbuild stronger cases againstthem.Theunitbuildsona systemalready in place to protect MPs, expanding protection to people standing for elected office.
It forms part of a raft of new measures to crackdown on theabuse of electedofficials, set out by theSecurity Ministerin Parliament today.
Candidates standing for election to the Welsh Senedd and ScottishParliamentwill now receive the same dedicated policesupportas those contesting other elections, as Operation Ford iswidened.A network of dedicated police officersremainsin place in all forces across the country ready to support the local elections and provide security briefings for candidates.
Newandstrengthenedguidancewillalsobeissued tofrontlineofficers, withgreaterclarity on how to respond to incidents involving politicians.To reinforce this,theSecurity Ministerhaswritten tothe chair of the National Police Chief's Counciltoremind chief constablesofthewide range of powers availableand urgedthemnot to hesitateto usethem to protect candidates.
Security Minister Dan Jarvis said:
Harassment, intimidation,abuse,and violence are not acceptable political expression. We willnevertolerate it, norallow it to become the new normal.
This is a year-round task, butwe'reramping up action ahead of local elections by putting in place protections and support for those campaigning, and ensuring any offenders face tough consequences.
To the public and those who serve them, protecting our democracy is a shared responsibility. We all must call out this abuse whenever and wherever we see it.
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Williams, Head of the National Police Coordination Centre (NPoCC) said:
We will not tolerate the intimidation and harassment of candidates or their supporters, whether in person or online. Police forces up and down the country will be working hard to detect and prevent crime, ensuring the democratic process is free from interference of any kind.
A network of trained officers has been established to offer bespoke support and guidance to candidates. This will help minimise risk while campaigning and provide guidance on any online and social media concerns. A national operation has also been stood up to ensure forces are aligned and able to share the most up to date intelligence.
It is vital our elections are not undermined by criminality, and we will work with our partners to make sure we can respond to any incidents robustly and effectively.
Olivia Field, Chief Executive, The Jo Cox Foundation, said:
Elections are vital to the health of our democracy and must be conducted with respect. Abuse and intimidation towards candidates have serious consequences - discouraging strong candidates from standing and preventing others from participating fully because of safety concerns. We welcome measures to strengthen protections for election candidates.
Through our Jo Cox Civility Commission, we are calling on all political parties to enforce their codes of conduct and for candidates to model respectful behaviour. Everyone in public life has a responsibility to ensure that no one, whatever their beliefs, faces abuse or intimidation.
To crackdown on the unacceptable abuse that many have suffered online, government is engaging directly with social media platforms to strengthen online protections for candidates and elected representatives,ensuringunlawful abuse is passed to the police. Under the Online Safety Act, technology companies now haveclearlegal duties toidentify,removeand prevent illegal content including threats.
The ministeralsourged elected representativesacrossnational,local,and devolvedlevelsto"stand together"against thisgrowing threatand urgedthemtoreport it wheneverittakes place. Doing so helpsthe police build a clearer picture of the perpetratorsand theirbehaviour, andenablesthe police to intervene before anyone is harmed.
There has been a concerning rise in harassment of those in public office,with the Electoral Commission reporting that 55% of the candidates who stood inthelast general election experienced some form of abuse or intimidation. A separate surveyled by the Local GovernmentAssociationin 2025,found that7 in 10 councillors reported experiencing abuse or intimidation in the last year.
To ensure no one is deterred fromrepresentingtheir community or country because of fear, the Defending Democracy Taskforce is driving forward work across government to tackle the full range of threats to our democracy.
Under Operation Bridger,adedicated superintendent is in place in allpoliceforces to provide a point of contact for MPs when they are outside of the Parliamentary Estate. MeanwhileOperation Fordextends that support, providing all local representatives with a dedicated police officer to provide briefings on personal security to keep them safe during and after elections.
Landmarkbills goingthrough Parliamentwill introduce major new measures to crack down abusivebehaviourand strengthen protections, including restricting protests outside the homes of public office holders, tougher sentences for offences involving electoral intimidation, and removing the requirement for candidates acting as their own election agents to publish their home address.When passed, these new laws willensure greater privacy and safety forthose working in, or choosing to stand for, public office.
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
