Assembly engaging with police over abuse of MLAs

The Northern Ireland Assembly has engaged with police over abuse faced by its members (MLAs), Speaker Edwin Poots has said.

Assembly members last week spoke out to BBC News NI about facing attacks on their offices, as well as receiving death and rape threats.

Meanwhile politicians spoke out in support of Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart over abuse she receives online.

At the start of the assembly sitting on Monday, Poots commended MLAs who had spoken out.

Poots, who was one of the members who spoke to BBC News NI's The View programme about his experiences, said the assembly commission had been engaging with both the police and the Electoral Commission.

"I would want to encourage members to ensure that they report any threats or harassment that they receive to the police," he said.

"It's important that we're going to recognise this problem of abuse and not accept it as the norm, which I know many of us have got used to."

Some members of the assembly said if they had realised the scale of abuse they would face then they would never have stood for election.

BBC News NI understands some are considering leaving elected politics.

In a statement on Monday, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said it "condemns and thoroughly investigates any reports of abuse, harassment or criminality directed towards our elected representatives".

Ch Supt Stephen Murray said: "It is totally unacceptable that anyone should face such abuse simply for carrying out the duties of their office.

"We will continue to do all we can to ensure that all of our politicians are supported, and that they can undertake their role free from fear and intimidation."

Ch Supt Murray said the police regularly engaged with elected representatives to give them advice on personal safety and help them take steps to reduce the risk of abuse.

He said the PSNI planned to hold an event at Stormont in April to give provide advice and help to MLAs.