Further resources

Personal safety guidance
Northampton Borough Council – Personal safety guide for councillors
Essex County Council – Personal safety for members
Plymouth Council – Personal safety and lone working guidance for councillors
Medway Council – Ward work guidance for councillors
Home security – Secured by Design
Support
The Suzy Lamplugh Trust has a website with useful and practical guidance on issues such as transport safety, dealing with aggression, internet safety, personal alarms, running safety and safety at home.
The National Stalking Helpline: Practical advice and information to anyone who is currently or previously has been affected by harassment or stalking.
Paladin: Strategic advocacy to high-risk victims of stalking and establish a network of victims who have endured stalking, providing mutual support and empowerment.
Protection Against Stalking works jointly with relevant agencies to increase awareness of stalking and harassment to ensure victims receive protection and help to rebuild their lives and live free of fear.
LGiU Personal Safety: The Local Government Information Unit have developed a helpful resource containing checklists and advice on issues of personal safety for councillors
Social media guidance
Ashfield District Council – Social Media Policy for Councillors
Essex County Council – Social media for members
Essex County Council – Social media protocol for members
WLGA – Social Media: a guide for councillors
WLGA – Councillors guide to handling online abuse
Helping young people stay safe online
Facebook policies and guidelines
- What is or isn’t against Facebook’s rules
- What action Facebook takes to respond to abuse
- The methods of protection on Facebook
- A guide to how users ought to respond to safety issues
- Overview of privacy settings
Instagram policies and guidelines
- Overview of the user standards, and also articles about how individuals should respond to abuse
- Overview of privacy settings
Twitter policies and guidelines
Digital citizenship guidance
Virtual library – digital citizenship
Data protection guidance
Data Protection Act – ICO advice for elected and prospective councillors
Councillors’ guide to handling
harassment, abuse and intimidation
Definition of harassment, abuse and intimidation
General advice on handling abuse and intimidation
Practical advice for handling online abuse
Practical advice for handling physical abuse and personal security
Practical advice for handling psychological
abuse and impact on wellbeing
What legal support is there?
Advice for supporting councillors
Basics on communicating with
residents, colleagues and officers
Further resources
Please note that this guide does not take the place of legal advice or personalised advice from the police on offences or personal security. If you are concerned about your personal safety or security as a result of abuse, harassment or intimidation, do contact your local police force.