The government has launched a new programme to increase the support for elected representatives and candidates, called Operation Ford. While covering elected representatives at all levels, councillors and council candidates are specifically mentioned.
Each police force will now have a Force Elected-Official Advisor. However, crime should still be reported as usual, via 999 or 101. However, it is important when reporting to emphasise that the crime is directed against the victim in their role as a councillor or candidate.
The Election Commission says “An Operation Ford incident is any act committed against a serving elected official including local councillors, Mayor, Police & Crime Commissioner or a candidate for these elections (but excluding MPs and UK parliamentary candidates) where it is reasonable to believe that the act has been committed with the intention of intimidating or harassing the elected official or candidate in connection with their official position or potential future position.
“To help support the safety and security of everyone who wants to participate in elections, it is important that the police can proactively contact candidates to provide them with information and advice. ROs can help facilitate this by working with their FEOA and providing candidate contact details (email address and/or telephone numbers) to them as soon as possible after the close of nominations.”
The EC believes that passing candidate data on to the FEAO is legitimate under data protection legislation, but I would expect candidates to be forewarned and to be given the chance to opt out.
Time will show if these new arrangements are effective.
ALDC advises that if any candidate or councillor is the victim of crime then they should report, even if it is apparently trivial. A pattern of small aggressions can in itself be damaging and can easily escalate if not dealt with. Councillors should also seek advice from their monitoring officer.