Stormont to set up special fund for MLA security

Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly are to be offered extra money to step up their security.

A special fund is being set up by Stormont's Assembly Commission to pay for increased security measures at politicians' homes and offices.

MLAs, MPs and local councillors have complained of intimidation and harassment, ranging from online abuse to personal threats.

Former Justice Minister Claire Sugden told BBC Radio Foyle's North West Today programme that she and staff at her office in Coleraine, Co Londonderry, had on occasions felt intimidated and concerned for their safety.

Currently, MLAs can pay for security measures out of an allowance to meet running costs but the new fund would be in addition to that.

The figure currently under consideration is £4,000 for each MLA.

The assembly commission said it would be "used exclusively for the provision of security measures at constituency offices and/or members’ private dwellings".

Discussions are currently underway to determine how much each MLA could be offered.

During the recent Westminster election campaign, the head of the Electoral Commission, Cahir Hughes, said candidates had reported experiences of harassment and abuse, with women more likely than men to be targeted.

Additionally, MPs from Northern Ireland were briefed on security at Westminster last week and given panic alarms to alert police if they are in danger.

They they were also assigned a police liaison officer.

Speaking to the Nolan Show earlier this week, the speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly Edwin Poots said the funding from the assembly commission would help provide MLAs with things like security cameras and locks.

Mr Poots said the level of abuse now directed at elected politicians and their staff was completely unacceptable.

“There is a small section of people who are prepared to offer violence because you engage in public office," he said.

“The assembly commission will be providing support so people can put electronic locks on your doors and cameras so that you can check people out before you admit them to your office.

“Very often we have one or two people in an office, very often female members of staff, so we do need to take greater levels of protection to ensure those staff are not threatened or compromised in any way.”

Ms Sugden, who is an independent MLA, said she has installed additional security measures in her constituency office to help provide greater safety for herself and her staff.

"People do approach you and in most cases people are very kind, but there are occasions when people want to share their views, can get ahead of themselves and lose control of their emotions and it can get quite worrying," Ms Sugden said.

"Certainly over the last number of years it has felt more often than not like this and I am glad the assembly is looking at this.

"If we want to encourage more people, in particular women, into these sorts of roles we need to call it out."

In a statement, the Assembly Commission said the security of members and staff at constituency offices was something they take "extremely seriously" and have "discussed frequently in recent times".

“As well as the financial support available, the assembly commission works closely with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) to brief members on security matters, and provides members with the UK Government’s personal security guidance.

“While the assembly commission is not involved in the recording or investigation of individual incidents, the assembly commission has recently been considering a number of options to support members and has agreed that additional funding will be made available to members for the provision of security measures.

“Measures required will vary according to the circumstances of each member and the assembly commission will not disclose the detail of security measures for individual members."