Security guards hired to protect Sandwell councillors after online threats

The revelation came at it emerged that the authority felt the threats were so severe that it took out a court injunction to protect the unnamed councillors.

A meeting of the Labour-run council’s ethical standards committee heard that elected members had also suffered face-to-face abuse – with one incident seeing a councillor's car forced off the road.

And the online abuse directed towards councillors was so vicious that it could lead to someone committing suicide, it was claimed.

The frightening level of intimidation was revealed as safety measures for politicians at constituent surgeries was discussed.

The committee was told that following online threats against the two councillors, the authority obtained an injunction preventing their abuser from approaching them either directly or through social media.

Surjit Tour,  Sandwell Council's director of law and governance, conceded that there had been some "serious incidents" but noted that they were "few and far between".

Considering potential action, he added: “Whatever mitigation we put in place must be of a proportional measure, and there is a balance between councillor’s safety and members wanting to be accessible.”

Councillor Peter Hughes said the amount of personal abuse on Twitter, Facebook and blog posts was so relentless that it could lead to someone killing themselves.

Explaining he has suffered threats in social situations when he had been forced to leave for his own safety, he added:  “There is a lot more pressure on us from social media.

“At the end of the day, if your mental health suffers as a result of intensive bullying or harassment on social media that is just as bad as being hit.

“Someone could end up committing suicide because of the amount of pressure they have on social media and its got to be taken into account.”

Bristnall councillor Elaine Giles said that abuse was so commonplace that many members didn’t bother to report it, adding that a female councillor’s car had been allegedly forced of the road,

The committee heard the number of reported incidents in Sandwell over the last six months amounted to a ‘handful', and agreed to a further report outlining recommendations to reduce the threats.

A report into councillor safety across the borough noted that specialist police had suggested the use of CCTV and panic alarms to protect elected members.

By George Makin

Local Democracy Reporter