This Council utterly condemns the increasing levels of violence, threats, harassment, bullying and intimidation against our elected representatives in Parliament and, increasingly, local councils, and calls on the Government to keep up the pressure on Chief Constables to use the legislation they already have at their disposal to deal with it.

This Council calls on The Leader to raise at Kent Leaders with a view to a joint meeting with the PCC and Chief Constable to discuss their plans to deal with this escalation.

Proposed: Cllr Tim Gibson

Seconded: Cllr Hannah Perkin

Amendment added 28 March 2024

This Council utterly condemns the increasing levels of violence, threats, harassment, bullying and intimidation against our elected representatives in Parliament and, increasingly, all levels of local government, and calls on the Government to keep up the pressure on Chief Constables to use the legislation they already have at their disposal to deal with it.

Proposed by:  Cllr Lloyd Bowen

Seconded by:  Cllr James Hunt

In proposing the motion as set out in the Agenda, the Leader said that the motion should not have to be presented and everyone pulling together, regardless of political background, was important.  He acknowledged the diversity of Members in the chamber was lacking but said it was difficult to positively encourage younger people to become Councillors, referring to the abuse that many in politics were subjected to. The Leader said toxicity in politics could damage democracy.

Referring to the murders of MP’s Jo Cox and David Ames, which were extreme, the Leader said there should be zero tolerance and any form of abuse was unacceptable. He said all Members should play their part in setting the tone, respecting each other to inspire trust in those they served. The Leader said all authorities should step up and use their powers to deal with abuse appropriately. He gave an example of abuse he had received and said others had received similar abuse, either personally or on line. The Leader said the abuse had to stop and hopefully the motion would provide the impetus for ensuring it did.

In seconding the motion, Councillor Hannah Perkin reserved her right to speak.

The Mayor advised that an amendment to the motion had been received, circulated to Members and added to the website.  She invited Councillor Lloyd Bowen to propose the amendment. Councillor Bowen said the amendment was the inclusion of the words “.. all levels of local government..” so the amended motion proposed now read:

“This Council utterly condemns the increasing levels of violence, threats, harassment, bullying and intimidation against our elected representatives in Parliament and, including all levels of local government, and calls on the Government to keep up the pressure on Chief Constables to use the legislation they already have at their disposal to deal with it.

This Council calls on the Leader to raise at Kent Leaders with a view to a joint meeting with the PCC and Chief Constable to discuss their plans to deal with this escalation.”

Councillor Bowen said the reason for the proposed amendment was to make it clear that the threat applied to all levels of Local Government.

Councillor James Hunt seconded the amendment.

In response, the Leader said he did not consider that the additional wording brought anything extra to the motion.

Members were invited to speak on the amendment and they made comments including:

·         Supported the amendment as the addition made it more clear;

·         shared information on the numbers of serving police officers, military and NHS staff attacked or murdered whilst on duty and said it was not just people in politics that needed protection; and

·         SBC officers also needed protection;

On being put to the vote, Members voted in support of the amendment.

Members then debated the amended motion and made points including:

·         Supported the amended motion;

·         threats of violence undermined democracy;

·         disagreements should be settled by peaceful and lawful dialogue and the Police should thoroughly investigate any threats of violence and take appropriate action to ensure the safety of elected officials;

·         a culture of respect and tolerance should be encouraged;

·         quoted figures setting out the numbers of Councillors who had been the subject of abuse and who had stated they would not stand in the next election, influenced by the increase in abuse;

·         gave an example of an SBC Councillor who was threatened, and Police took no action;

·         said the Police needed to use their powers to deal with incidents;

·         suggested a letter to the Justice Minster and the Minster for Police;

·         referred to others in society who had been subjected to abuse;

·         gave personal experiences of being threatened;

·         questioned whether others who worked in emergency or other services and had been subjected to abuse might consider they had been ignored by not being included in a motion;

·         could not support the motion as considered it was self-serving;

·         Councillors were there to represent their residents and should be allowed freedom of speech and to raise issues;

·         emergency services were protected against via the crime of assault of an emergency worker;

·         the Police did not take the issues seriously enough;

·         Councillors should not be receiving special treatment;

·         more than half of the Councillors in the Chamber had been subject to threats or abuse;

·         there was value in the motion;

·         the point of the motion was in setting the tone for society;

·         understood why some were reluctant to support as it was for protection of local politicians but without local politicians there was no local democracy; and

·         outlined some of the abuse that female Councillors received which was often worse than that directed at male Councillors.

Councillor Perkin referred to a recent LGA survey and said there was an alarming number of Councillors who had received abuse serious enough to involve the Police.  She gave an example of how the Police had worked quickly and efficiently when she was the subject of abuse.  Councillor Perkin said those with protected characteristics were more likely to be targeted with personalised abuse and this would discourage some in society to stand in politics, leading to under representation.  She said the motion was about looking for solutions to stop the abuse of local and national politicians and the motion was not about self-serving but protecting decision making for residents by diversifying the voices that were included in local government.

The Leader said he made no apology for bringing the motion forward and urged all to support it.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 3.1.19(2), a recorded vote was taken, and voting was as follows:

For: Bowen, Booth, Brawn, Cavanagh, Chapman, Cheesman, R Clark, C Gibson, T Gibson, Golding, Gould, Hall, Harrison, Hunt, Jackson, Last, Lehmann, MacDonald, Marchington, B J Martin, C Martin, Miller, Moore, Noe, Perkin, Shiel, P Stephen, S Stephen, Tucker, Valls, Watson, Wooster, Whiting, Winckless and Wise. Total equals 35.

Against: Bonney, C Palmer and R Palmer. Total equals 3.

Abstain: Baldock and Nundy. Total equals 2.

Resolved:

(1)  That this Council utterly condemns the increasing levels of violence, threats, harassment, bullying and intimidation against our elected representatives in Parliament and, including all levels of local government, and calls on the Government to keep up the pressure on Chief Constables to use the legislation they already have at their disposal to deal with it.

(2) That this Council calls on the Leader to raise at Kent Leaders with a view to a joint meeting with the PCC and Chief Constable to discuss their plans to deal with this escalation.