Sandwell councillors to be issued with safety alarms

The decision to issue the the devices – which emit an ear-piercing sound alerting people to a potential attack – came as members of the ethical standards and member development committee approved a series of recommendations to improve elected members’ personal safety.

The alarms will be issued to any councillor who requests one, while all councillors will be offered training on how to deal with and report issues of harassment and abuse including methods to ‘de-escalate’ potentially dangerous situations.

A report to the committee stated: “Elected members have a right to feel as safe and secure as possible when carrying out their role on behalf of the residents they serve.”

Initially, local politicians will be offered a device – but in cases of greater risk they can be given a more expensive alarm which can link them to a call centre to ask for assistance.

Councillor Peter Hughes, who was part of a working group which drew up the recommendations, said councillors often overlooked their own safety.

He said: “In terms of personal alarms I think it should be offered to every one of the 72 councillors. I think the cheaper version should be available to everybody.

“In terms of the dearer option, I think if we have an incident where an individual councillors or even a group of councillors are put into a situation that they feel they need the higher level then we should buy in that service when required.”

He added: “I think there were levels such as this with at least two members during the course of the last 12 to 18 months – if fact one was issued an alarm which went through to West Midlands Police.”

“If it was thought it was required then, I think access to it should be provided in the future.”

In accepting the recommendations, the committee agreed to provide safety training this November which will incorporated into the members’ ongoing development programme during 2020.