The LGA's call for evidence quantitative data

Background

From October 2021 to April 2022 the Local Government Association (LGA) conducted a survey of councillors across all councils in the United Kingdom. The purpose of the survey was to capture elected or prospective members’ experiences and concerns around public abuse and intimidation and how this can impact upon democratic processes, especially at a local level. A total of 419 responses were received. Whilst the survey was open to councillors, candidates and people who support councillors from parish councils, the majority of responses were from principal councils. The findings have been turned into a new report titled, Debate Not Hate: The impact of abuse on local democracy. 

Key Findings

• Scale: 88 per cent of respondents said they had experienced abuse and/or intimidation, directed at them personally, be it from a member of the public, or persons unknown, as a result or, or in relation to their role as a councillor, or whilst a political candidate.

• Frequency: 98 per cent of respondents who said they experienced abuse and/or intimidation said they had experienced such incidents on multiple occasions.

• Channel: Most abuse and/or intimidation had come via social media, with 73 per cent of the respondents with multiple experiences saying such networks has been used. In person abuse and/or intimidation was reported by 64 per cent of respondents.
  
   
• Timeframe: Those who had experienced abuse and/or intimidation were asked whether it had been encountered within the current month or over 24 months ago. Most frequently, for victims of multiple incidents, their first experience had occurred over 24 months ago.
  
   
• Triggers: 59 per cent of respondents said the abuse and/or intimidation was trigged by a specific event. And, of this group, 68 per cent said it was due to a particular decision that had been made.
  
   
• Duration: 50 per cent of respondents who had experienced multiple incidents of abuse and/or intimidation said the abuse and/or intimidation is ongoing.
  
   
• Support: 63 per cent of respondents who had experienced abuse and/or intimidation said they had sought support.  
  
   
• Taken action: 72 per cent of respondents said they had taken actions to avoid intimidation and/or abuse, or to protect themselves.
  
   
• Witness to abuse/intimidation: 76 per cent of respondents said they had witnessed abuse and/or intimidation, directed at others, from a member of the public, or persons unknown, as a result of, or in relation to their role as a councillor or a candidate standing for election.
  
   
• Frequency of witnessing incidents: 52 per cent of respondents who had witnessed abuse and/or intimidation said they had witnessed abuse and/or intimidation more than ten times.
  
   
• Standing for election: 27 per cent of the respondents who had experienced a ‘single incident’ or ‘multiple incidents’ of abuse and/or intimidation, said they would not stand for election at the next local elections, with 31 per cent undecided.
  
   
• Impact on candidacy: 68 per cent of the respondents who said they would not be or were not yet decided about standing for election at the next local elections for their area, said the possibility of abuse and/or intimidation had influenced their position on whether to stand.
  
   
• Impact on others standing: 60 per cent of respondents who said they had experienced a ‘single incident’ or ‘multiple incidents’ of abuse and/or intimidation, said they were aware of others being unwilling to stand or re-stand for election, or take on leadership roles, due to anticipated abuse and/or intimidation.

From October 2021 to April 2022 the Local Government Association (LGA) held a call for evidence of abuse and intimidation of councillors in the form of a survey. The survey was open to councillors, candidates and people who support councillors across all types of councils in the United Kingdom.

The purpose of the survey was to capture elected or prospective members’ experiences and concerns around public intimidation and abuse[1] and how this can impact upon democratic processes, especially at a local level. Topics include the number of incidents respondents have experienced, where the abuse/intimidation occurred, when the abuse/intimidation first occurred, when they first experienced an incident, the frequency of incidents and the helpfulness of support provided.

In October 2021, the LGA published an open link to an online survey on the Civility in public life webpage. The webpage was advertised to contacts who may have personally experienced or witnessed abuse and/or intimidation of councillors across all councils in the United Kingdom, including district councils, county councils, single tier councils and parish and town councils. The survey was able to be completed by serving or past councillors, current or previous candidates, or first-hand witnesses of abuse against councillors. There was a total of 419[1] responses related to principal councils during the six months from October 2021 to April 2022.

Table 1 shows the response rate by type of council.

Table 1: Response rate by type of council 

Base: All respondents (419 respondents)

Table 2 shows the response rate by region. This shows that the region with the highest number of total responses was the South West with 94 and the region with the lowest number of total responses was Wales with 2.

Table 2: Response rate by council region

Base: All respondents (419 respondents)

 

In addition, the following points should be noted about the research methodology:

• Please note that the bases from which percentages were calculated vary throughout the survey, as not all respondents were shown all questions, and all questions were optional, meaning that some respondents chose not to answer them. Please note that bases vary throughout the survey.
  
   
• Throughout the report percentages in figures and tables may add to more than 100 per cent due to rounding. Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole per cent

Sample demographics

A summary of the demographic makeup of the sample can be found at Annex A.

This section contains analysis of the full results from the survey.

Experiences

Most respondents (58 per cent) said they had experienced abuse and/or intimidation, directed at them personally, be it from a member of the public, or persons unknown, as a result or, or in relation to their role as a councillor, or whilst a political candidate. A further 17 per cent of respondents said they had experienced abuse (and not intimidation). Eight per cent of respondents said they had experienced intimidation (and not abuse). Five per cent of respondents said they had experienced another form of abuse/intimidation. Twelve per cent of respondents said they had not experienced any abuse and/or intimidation. One per cent of respondents said they didn’t know or were unsure whether they had experiences of abuse or intimidation. The results to this question are displayed in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Have you ever experienced abuse and/or intimidation, directed at you personally, from a member of the public, or persons unknown, as a result of, or in relation to your role as a councillor, or while a political candidate?

Base: All respondents apart from those who answered ‘Never’ to ‘When did you last serve as a councillor but including those who answered ‘Never’ to ‘When did you last serve as a councillor’ AND answered ‘A past candidate’ or ‘A future candidate’ to ‘And in which capacity are you providing evidence?’. (412 respondents) 

Incidents experienced

Two-thirds of respondents (64 per cent) said they had experienced multiple incidents of abuse and/or intimidation perpetrated by different people. A further 18 per cent of respondents said they had experienced multiple incidents perpetrated by the same person with eight per cent saying they had experienced multiple incidents perpetrated by an unknown number of people. Ten per cent of respondents said they had experienced a single incident of abuse and/or intimidation. Less than one per cent respondents said they didn’t know or were unsure whether they experienced a single incident or multiple incidents. The results to this question are shown in Figure 2.

Figure 2. Did you experience a single incident or have there been multiple incidents?

Base: All respondents who answered ‘Yes, abuse’, ‘Yes, intimidation’, ‘Yes, abuse and intimidation’ or ‘Yes, other’ to ‘Have you ever experienced abuse and/or intimidation…?’ (358 respondents)

Respondents who had experienced either a single incident of abuse and/or intimidation or multiple incidents were asked where it had occurred. The largest proportion of abuse and/or intimidation for single incidents occurred in person (56 per cent) and for multiple incidents occurred on social media (73 per cent). The results for this question are displayed in Table 3. 

Base: All respondents who answered ‘single incident’ of abuse and/or intimidation (34 respondents). All respondents who answered any form of ‘multiple incidents’ of abuse and/or intimidation (323 respondents)

N.B. The multiple incidents column was a multiple response question allowing respondents to select more than one option. This explains why the sum of percentages does not equal 100%.

Respondents who had stated where the multiple incidents of abuse and/or intimidation had occurred were asked to rank their choices from one to six in terms of which method had occurred the most frequently (one being the most frequent and six being the least frequent). These rankings were then calculated using a form of descriptive analysis using the ranking scale data.[1]

Figure 3 shows that abuse and/or intimidation occurring on social media e.g. Twitter, Facebook was the highest ranked occurrence with a total ranking score of 1085. Abuse and/or intimidation occurring in person was the second highest ranked occurrence with a total ranking score of 820. Abuse and/or intimidation occurring through online written communication e.g. email, WhatsApp was the third highest ranked occurrence with a total ranking score of 745.

Figure 3. Where did the abuse and/or intimidation occur? (Multiple Incidents)

Base: All respondents who answered any form of ‘multiple incidents’ of abuse and/or intimidation (323 respondents) 

Respondents who had experienced either a single or multiple incidents of abuse and/or intimidation were asked when it had occurred/first occurred. The largest proportion of abuse and/or intimidation for single incidents occurred over 24 months ago (29 per cent). For multiple incidents the largest proportion of abuse and/or intimidation first occurred over 24 months ago (45 per cent). The second largest proportion of abuse and/or intimidation for single incidents occurred between 18 and 24 months ago (18 per cent). For multiple incidents the second largest proportion of abuse and/or intimidation first occurred between 18 and 24 months ago (14 per cent). The results for this question are displayed in Table 4.

Table 4: When did the abuse and/or intimidation occur? (Single incident) When did the abuse and/or intimidation first occur (Multiple incidents)

Base: All respondents who answered ‘single incident’ of abuse and/or intimidation (34 respondents). All respondents who answered any form of ‘multiple incidents’ of abuse and/or intimidation (323 respondents)

Respondents who had experienced multiple incidents of abuse and/or intimidation where asked when the most recent incident occurred. The most recent incident for most respondents was within the last six months (46 per cent within the last month, 22 per cent between one and three months ago and 11 per cent between four and six months ago). The results for this question are shown in Table 5.

Table 5: When was the most recent incident? (Multiple incidents)

Base: All respondents who answered any form of ‘multiple incidents’ of abuse and/or intimidation (323 respondents)

Respondents who had experienced multiple incidents of abuse and/or intimidation where asked how frequently it occurs. There was no clear pattern in terms of the frequency of abuse and/or intimidation, but 36 per cent of respondents reported it took place at least once a week. Thirty-two per cent of respondents said it occurred approximately once a month or less. A further 10 per cent of respondents said the abuse and/or intimidation occurred approximately two to three times a month. The results for this question are shown in Table 6.

Table 6: How frequently did/does the abuse and/or intimidation occur?

Base: All respondents who answered any form of ‘multiple incidents’ of abuse and/or intimidation (323 respondents)

Most respondents (59 per cent) said the abuse and/or intimidation they had experienced was triggered by specific events. A total of 21 per cent of respondents said the abuse and/or intimidation was not triggered by specific events. Nineteen per cent of respondents were unsure. One per cent of respondents did not answer the question. The results for this question are shown in Table 7.

Table 7: Was the abuse and/or intimidation triggered by specific events?

Base: All respondents who answered ‘Yes, abuse’, ‘Yes, intimidation’, ‘Yes, abuse and intimidation’ or ‘Yes, other’ to ‘Have you ever experienced abuse and/or intimidation…?’ (358 respondents)

For most respondents (68 per cent), a particular decision had triggered their experiences of abuse and/or intimidation. Additionally, 35 per cent of respondents said campaigning for elections triggered the abuse and 22 per cent of respondents said taking up their role was the trigger. Twenty-one per cent of respondents said it was something ‘other’ that triggered the abuse whilst two per cent of respondents were unsure. The results for this question are displayed in Table 8.

Table 8: What was the event that triggered the abuse?

Base: All respondents who answered ‘Yes’ to ‘Was the abuse and/or intimidation triggered by specific events?’ (212 respondents)

N.B. This question was a multiple response question allowing respondents to select more than one option. This explains why the sum of percentages does not equal 100%.

Respondents who had experienced multiple incidents of abuse and/or intimidation were asked whether the abuse was ongoing. Most respondents (50 per cent) said the abuse was ongoing whilst 31 per cent of respondents said the abuse had ended. Nineteen per cent of respondents were unsure. The results for this question are displayed in Figure 4.

Figure 4. Is the abuse ongoing?

Base: All respondents who answered any form of ‘multiple incidents’ of abuse and/or intimidation (323 respondents)

Support

Most respondents (63 per cent) who had experienced abuse and/or intimidation said they had sought support in relation to the abuse and/or intimidation and 37 per cent of respondents had not. The results for this question are shown in Figure 5.

Figure 5. Did you seek support in relation to the abuse and/or intimidation you experienced?

Base: All respondents who answered ‘Yes, abuse’, ‘Yes, intimidation’, ‘Yes, abuse and intimidation’ or ‘Yes, other’ to ‘Have you ever experienced abuse and/or intimidation…?’ (358 respondents) 

Three-quarters of respondents (74 per cent) said they had sought support from peers i.e. other councillors in relation to the abuse and/or intimidation they had experienced. A further two-thirds of respondents (67 per cent) said they had sought support from council officers. Fifty-six per cent of respondents said they had sought support from the police and 52 per cent of respondents said they had sought support from friends and/or family.  The results for this question are displayed in Table 9.

Table 9: From whom did you seek support?

Base: All respondents who answered ‘Yes’ to ‘Did you seek support in relation to the abuse and/or intimidation you experienced?’ (227 respondents)

N.B. This question was a multiple response question allowing respondents to select more than one option. This explains why the sum of percentages does not equal 100%.

Action taken

More than seven in ten (72 per cent) respondents who said they had served as a councillor had taken actions to avoid intimidation and/or abuse, or to protect themselves and 28 per cent had not. The results for this question are shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6. Have you taken any actions to avoid intimidation and/or abuse, or to protect yourself? e.g. using rules of engagement, installing security systems, avoiding social media

 Base: All respondents apart from those who answered ‘Never’ to ‘When did you last serve as a councillor?’ (410 respondents)

Witnessed

More than three quarters (76 per cent) of respondents said they had witnessed abuse and/or intimidation, directed at others, from a member of the public, or persons unknown, as a result of, or in relation to their role as a councillor or a candidate standing for election whilst 18 per cent of respondents had not. Five per cent of respondents were unsure. The results for this question are shown in Table 10.

Table 10: Have you ever witnessed abuse and/or intimidation, directed at others, from a member of the public, or persons unknown, as a result of, or in relation to their role as a councillor or candidate standing for election?

Base: All respondents (419 respondents)

Incidents Witnessed

Most respondents (52 per cent) said, on more than 10 occasions, they had witnessed abuse and/or intimidation directed at others. Twenty-eight per cent of respondents said they had witnessed abuse and/or intimidation between two and five times whilst eleven per cent of respondents said had witnessed abuse and/or intimidation between six and 10 times. The results for this question are displayed in Figure 7.

Figure 7. How many times, have you witnessed abuse and/or intimidation?

 Base: All respondents who answered ‘Yes’ to ‘Have you ever witnessed abuse and/or intimidation…’ (320 respondents)

More than seven in 10 respondents (71 per cent) said that the abuse and/or intimidation they received occurred on social media e.g. Twitter, Facebook. A further 69 per cent of respondents said the abuse and/or intimidation occurred in person. A third of respondents (33 per cent) said the abuse and/or intimidation occurred through online written communication. The results for this question are shown in Table 11.

Table 11: Where did the abuse and/or intimidation occur?

Base: All respondents who answered ‘Yes’ to ‘Have you ever witnessed abuse and/or intimidation…’ (320 respondents)

N.B. This question was a multiple response question allowing respondents to select more than one option. This explains why the sum of percentages does not equal 100%.

Respondents who had experienced either single or multiple incidents of abuse and/or intimidation were asked if they will be standing for election at the next local elections for their area. Forty-two per cent of respondents said they would be standing for election. Thirty-one per cent of respondents said they were currently unsure with a further 27 per cent of respondents saying they would not be standing for election at the next local elections. The results for this question are shown in Figure 8.

Figure 8. Will you be standing for election at the next local elections for your area?

Base: All respondents who answered single incident’ or ‘multiple incidents’ of abuse and/or intimidation (357 respondents) 

More than two-thirds (68 per cent) of respondents who said they would not be - or were undecided - standing for election at the next local elections for their area said the possibility of abuse and/or intimidation had influenced their position on whether to stand. Twenty per cent of respondents said the possibility of abuse and/or intimidation had not influenced their position on whether to stand and 13 per cent were not decided on its influence. The results for this question are displayed in Figure 9.

Figure 9. Has the possibility of abuse and/or intimidation influenced your position on whether to stand?

Base: All respondents who answered ‘No’ or ‘Not yet decided’ to ‘Will you be standing for election at the next local elections for your area?’ (207 respondents) 

Six out of ten respondents (60 per cent) with direct experience of abuse and/or intimidation said they were aware of others being unwilling to stand or re-stand for election due to anticipated abuse and/or intimidation. Eighteen per cent of respondents said they were not aware of others being unwilling to stand or re-stand for election due to anticipated abuse and/or intimidation and 22 per cent were unsure. The results for this question are shown in Table 12.

Table 12: Are you aware of others being unwilling to stand or re-stand for election, or take on leadership roles, due to anticipated abuse and/or intimidation?

Base: All respondents who answered ‘single incident’ or ‘multiple incidents’ of abuse and/or intimidation (357 respondents)

Sample demographics

Respondents were also asked about their demographic characteristics. Due to the relatively small overall sample sizes, it wasn’t possible to do any significant statistical analysis in terms of the data available to hand. However, the results in this section demonstrate the varying characteristics of the 419 respondents who completed the survey.

Respondents were asked to state their sex. Thirty-three per cent of respondents said they were male whilst 35 per cent of respondents said they were female. Thirty-two per cent of respondents did not answer the question, and fewer than one per cent selected the ‘prefer not to say’ option. The results are shown in Table 13.

Table 13: What is your sex?

Base: All respondents (419 respondents)

Respondents were asked if the gender they identify with is the same as their sex registered at birth. Sixty-seven per cent of respondents said the gender they identify as is the same as their sex registered at birth. Thirty-two per cent of respondents did not answer the question. One per cent of respondents preferred not to say, and no respondents said the gender they identify with is not the same as the sex they were registered with at birth. The results are shown in Table 14.

Table 14: Is the gender you identify with the same as your sex registered at birth?

Base: All respondents (419 respondents)

Respondents were to state their age group. The largest proportion of respondents (43 per cent) were aged 50 to 64. The second largest group of respondents (25 per cent) were aged 65 and above. Twenty per cent of respondents were aged 35 to 49. Six per cent of respondents were aged 25 to 34. One per cent of respondents were aged up to 24. Five per cent of respondents did not answer the question whilst one per cent of respondents chose the ‘prefer not to say’ option. The results are displayed in Table 15.

Table 15: What is your age group?

Base: All respondents (419 respondents)

Respondents were asked to state their ethnic group. Eighty-three per cent of respondents said they were English/Welsh/Scottish/Northern Irish/British. Other ethnic groups comprised between 0.2 and five per cent of the sample. Fewer than one per cent of respondents preferred not to state their ethnic group whilst six per cent of respondents did not answer the question. The results for this question are displayed in Table 16.

Table 16: What is your ethnic group?

Base: All respondents (419 respondents)

Respondents were asked how they would describe their sexual orientation. Eighty-two per cent of respondents said they were straight or heterosexual. Four per cent of respondents said they were gay or lesbian. Two per cent of respondents said they were bisexual. Fewer than one per cent of respondents said they were ‘other sexual orientation’. Four per cent of respondents preferred not to say whilst eight per cent of respondents did not answer the question. The results for this question are shown in Table 17.

Table 17: Which of the following best describes your sexual orientation?

Base: All respondents (419 respondents)

Respondents were asked to state their religion. The largest proportion of respondents (50 per cent) said they were Christian (all denominations). Thirty-eight per cent of respondents said they did not have a religion. Other religious groups made up between 0.5 and one per cent of the sample. Three per cent of respondents chose the ‘prefer not to say’ option whilst six per cent of respondents did not answer the question. The results for this question are displayed in Table 18.

Table 18: What is your religion?

Base: All respondents (419 respondents)

Respondents were asked whether they had any physical or mental health conditions or illnesses lasting or expected to last 12 months or more. Forty-two per cent of respondents said this was not the case. Seventeen per cent of respondents said they did have a form of physical or mental health condition or illness lasting or expected to last 12 months or more. Four per cent of respondents said they preferred not to say whilst 38 per cent of respondents did not answer the question. The results for this question are shown in Table 19.

Table 19: Do you have any physical or mental health conditions or illnesses lasting or expected to last 12 months or more?

Base: All respondents (419 respondents)

Respondents who said they did have physical or mental health conditions or illnesses lasting or expected to last 12 months or more were then asked whether these conditions or illnesses reduced their ability to carry out day to day activities. Sixty-one per cent said their conditions or illnesses reduced their ability to carry out day to day activities a little. Twenty per cent of respondents said their conditions or illnesses did not reduce their ability. A further 13 per cent of respondents said their conditions or illnesses reduced their ability a lot to carry out day to day activities. Four per cent of respondents preferred not to say whilst one per cent of respondents did not answer the question. The results are displayed in Table 20.

Table 20: Do any of your conditions or illnesses reduce your ability to carry out day to day activities?

Base: All respondents who said they did have a physical or mental health condition or illness (70 respondents)

Type and role

Respondents were asked about when they last served as a councillor if they had stated previously that they were not currently serving as a councillor. Nine respondents said they have never served as a councillor. Four respondents said they had last served as a councillor in the past 12 months. Three respondents said they had last served as a councillor between one and three years ago. One respondent said they had last served as a councillor between three and five years ago. One respondent said they had served more than five years ago. One respondent did not answer the question. The results for this question are displayed in Table 21.

Table 21: When did you last serve as a councillor?

Base: All respondents who answered ‘Not currently serving as a councillor’ to ‘Please indicate your council type’ (19 respondents)

Respondents who had not served as a councillor were asked in which capacity they were providing evidence. Five respondents said they were an officer. Two respondents said they were a past candidate (including past candidates intending to stand again). Two respondents said they were a member of the public. The results for this question are shown in Table 22.

Table 22: In which capacity are you providing evidence?

Base: All respondents who answered ‘Never’ to ‘When did you last serve as a councillor’ (9 respondents)

Respondents were asked whether they have any additional responsibilities as a councillor e.g. council leader, cabinet member etc. In total, 72 per cent of respondents said they do/did have additional responsibilities as a councillor. Twenty-seven per cent of respondents said they do not/don’t have any additional responsibilities as a councillor, whilst one per cent of respondents preferred not to say. The results for this question are displayed in Table 23.

Table 23: Do/did you have any additional responsibilities as a councillor (e.g. council leader, group leader, portfolio leader, portfolio holder, cabinet member, committee chair)

Base: All respondents apart from those who answered ‘Never’ to ‘When did you last serve as a councillor?’ (410 respondents)

Respondents were asked how many years they have served as a councillor. The largest proportion of respondents (44 per cent) said they have served as a councillor for up to five years and 25 per cent said they had served as a councillor for six to 10 years. Between two and 12 per cent of respondents said they had served as a councillor for longer than 10 years. One per cent of respondents did not answer the question. The results for this question are shown in Table 24.

Table 24: How many years have you served as a councillor?

Base: All respondents apart from those who answered ‘Never’ to ‘When did you last serve as a councillor?’ (410 respondents)

Respondents were asked in which year they were first elected as a councillor. The largest proportion of respondents (44 per cent) were first elected as a councillor between 2015 and 2019 and the second largest group (21 per cent) between 2010 and 2014. The results to this question are displayed in Table 25.

Table 25: In which year were you first elected as councillor?

Base: All respondents apart from those who answered ‘Never’ to ‘When did you last serve as a councillor?’ (410 respondents)

Please enter your details below.

• Name (1) ________________________________________________
• Email address (2) _________________________________________
• Region (3) ________________________________________________

1. Please indicate your council type

If you sit on more than one type of council you can indicate this under the 'other' category.

Community/Neighbourhood/Parish/Town (1)

District/Borough (2)

County (3)

Metropolitan/Unitary/London Borough (4)

Not currently serving as a councillor (5)

Other (please specify below) (6)

Display This Question:

If Please indicate your council type If you sit on more than one type of council you can indicate that... = Not currently serving as a councillor

2. When did you last serve as a councillor?

In the past 12 months (1)

Between one and three years ago (2)

Between three and five years ago (3)

More than five years ago (4)

Never (5)

Display This Question:

If When did you last serve as a councillor? = Never

3. In which capacity are you providing evidence?

A past candidate (including past candidates intending to stand again) (1)

A future candidate (including confirmed and potential candidates) (2)

A political agent (3)

An officer (4)

A member of the public (5)

Other (please specify below) (6)

Display This Question:

If When did you last serve as a councillor? != Never

4. Do/did you have any additional responsibilities as a councillor (e.g. council leader, group leader, portfolio holder, cabinet member, committee chair)

Yes (1)

No (2)

Prefer not to say (3)

Display This Question:

If Do/did you have any additional responsibilities as a councillor (e.g. council leader, group leader... = Yes

5 Please let us know which role(s) you undertake/have undertaken

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

 

Display This Question:

If When did you last serve as a councillor? != Never

6.  How many years have you served as a councillor?  (1)

     In which year were you first elected as a councillor?  (2)

Display This Question:

If When did you last serve as a councillor? != Never

Or When did you last serve as a councillor? = Never

And In which capacity are you providing evidence? = A past candidate (including past candidates intending to stand again)

Or When did you last serve as a councillor? = Never

And In which capacity are you providing evidence? = A future candidate (including confirmed and potential candidates)

Your experiences of abuse and/or intimidation 

  

7. Have you ever experienced abuse and/or intimidation, directed at you personally, from a member of the public, or persons unknown, as a result of, or in relation to your role as a councillor, or while a political candidate? (you will be asked about witnessing abuse and/or intimidation of other councillors/candidates later)

Yes, abuse (1)

Yes, intimidation (2)

Yes, abuse and intimidation (3)

Yes, other (please specify below) (4)

No (5)

Don't know/unsure (6)

Display This Question:

If Your experiences of abuse and/or intimidation    Have you ever experienced abuse and/or intimidation... = Yes, abuse

Or Your experiences of abuse and/or intimidation    Have you ever experienced abuse and/or intimidation... = Yes, intimidation

Or Your experiences of abuse and/or intimidation    Have you ever experienced abuse and/or intimidation... = Yes, abuse and intimidation

Or Your experiences of abuse and/or intimidation    Have you ever experienced abuse and/or intimidation... = Yes, other (please specify below)

8. Did you experience a single incident or have there been multiple incidents?

Single incident (1)

Multiple incidents perpetrated by the same person (2)

Multiple incidents perpetrated by different people (3)

Multiple incidents perpetrated by an unknown number of people i.e. not known whether by the same person or different people (4)

Don't know/unsure (5)

Display This Question:

If Did you experience a single incident or have there been multiple incidents? = Single incident

9. Where did the abuse and/or intimidation occur?

In person (1)

On social media e.g. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram (2)

Online meeting platform e.g. Zoom, Teams, Skype, Facetime (3)

Online written communication e.g. email, WhatsApp, Messenger (4)

Verbally by telephone, including voice messages (5)

Written by telephone e.g. SMS messages, texts (6)

By post, including messages and/or articles put through letterbox (7)

Other (please specify below) (8)

Display This Question:

If Did you experience a single incident or have there been multiple incidents? = Multiple incidents perpetrated by the same person

Or Did you experience a single incident or have there been multiple incidents? = Multiple incidents perpetrated by different people

Or Did you experience a single incident or have there been multiple incidents? = Multiple incidents perpetrated by an unknown number of people i.e. not known whether by the same person or different people

10. Where did the abuse and/or intimidation occur?

Please tick all that apply

In person (1)

On social media e.g. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram (8)

Online meeting platform e.g. Zoom, Teams, Skype, Facetime (2)

Online written communication e.g. email, WhatsApp, Messenger (3)

Verbally by telephone, including voice messages (4)

Written by telephone e.g. SMS messages, texts (5)

By post, including messages and/or articles put through letterbox (6)

Other (please specify below) (7)

Display This Question:

If If Where did the abuse and/or intimidation occur? Please tick all that apply q://QID10/SelectedChoicesCount Is Greater Than  1

Carry Forward Selected Choices - Entered Text from "Where did the abuse and/or intimidation occur? Please tick all that apply'

11. Please rank the types of abuse and/or intimidation you experienced by frequency. 

Please use the rank of 1 for the most frequently occurring type, followed by 2 for the

next most frequently occurring type, carrying on as appropriate, until you have ranked all of the options shown.

In person (1)

On social media e.g. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram (2)

Online meeting platform e.g. Zoom, Teams, Skype, Facetime (3)

Online written communication e.g. email, WhatsApp, Messenger (4)

Verbally by telephone, including voice messages (5)

Written by telephone e.g. SMS messages, texts (6)

By post, including messages and/or articles put through letterbox (7)

Other (please specify below) (8)

Display This Question:

If Did you experience a single incident or have there been multiple incidents? = Single incident

12. When did the abuse and/or intimidation occur?

Within the last month (1)

Between one and three months ago (2)

Between four and six months ago (3)

Between six and 12 months ago (4)

Between 12 and 18 months ago (5)

Between 18 and 24 months ago (6)

Over 24 months ago (please specify below) (7)

Don't know/unsure (8)

Display This Question:

If Did you experience a single incident or have there been multiple incidents? = Multiple incidents perpetrated by the same person

Or Did you experience a single incident or have there been multiple incidents? = Multiple incidents perpetrated by different people

Or Did you experience a single incident or have there been multiple incidents? = Multiple incidents perpetrated by an unknown number of people i.e. not known whether by the same person or different people

13. When did the abuse and/or intimidation first occur?

Within the last month (1)

Between one and three months ago (2)

Between four and six months ago (3)

Between six and 12 months ago (4)

Between 12 and 18 months ago (5)

Between 18 and 24 months ago (6)

Over 24 months ago (please specify below) (7)

Don't know/unsure (8)

Display This Question:

If Did you experience a single incident or have there been multiple incidents? = Multiple incidents perpetrated by the same person

Or Did you experience a single incident or have there been multiple incidents? = Multiple incidents perpetrated by different people

Or Did you experience a single incident or have there been multiple incidents? = Multiple incidents perpetrated by an unknown number of people i.e. not known whether by the same person or different people

14. When was the most recent incident?

Within the last month (1)

Between one and three months ago (2)

Between four and six months ago (3)

Between six and 12 months ago (4)

Between 12 and 18 months ago (5)

Between 18 and 24 months ago (6)

Over 24 months ago (please specify below) (7)

Don't know/unsure (8)

Display This Question:

If Did you experience a single incident or have there been multiple incidents? = Multiple incidents perpetrated by the same person

Or Did you experience a single incident or have there been multiple incidents? = Multiple incidents perpetrated by different people

Or Did you experience a single incident or have there been multiple incidents? = Multiple incidents perpetrated by an unknown number of people i.e. not known whether by the same person or different people

15. How frequently did/does the abuse and/or intimidation occur?

More than once a day (1)

Approximately once a day (2)

Approximately every two to three days (3)

Approximately two to three times a week (4)

Approximately once a week (5)

Approximately every 10 days (6)

Approximately once a fortnight (7)

Approximately two to three times a month (8)

Approximately once a month (9)

Less than once a month (10)

Other (please specify below) (11)

Display This Question:

If Your experiences of abuse and/or intimidation    Have you ever experienced abuse and/or intimidation... = Yes, abuse

Or Your experiences of abuse and/or intimidation    Have you ever experienced abuse and/or intimidation... = Yes, intimidation

Or Your experiences of abuse and/or intimidation    Have you ever experienced abuse and/or intimidation... = Yes, abuse and intimidation

Or Your experiences of abuse and/or intimidation    Have you ever experienced abuse and/or intimidation... = Yes, other (please specify below)

16. Was the abuse and/or intimidation triggered by specific events?

Yes (1)

No (2)

Don't know/unsure (3)

Display This Question:

If Was the abuse and/or intimidation triggered by specific events? = Yes

17. What was the event that triggered the abuse? 

If there have been multiple incidents please tick all that apply and provide clarification below

Campaigning for elections (1)

Taking up my role (2)

A particular decision (3)

Other (please specify) (4)

Don’t know/unsure (5)

Display This Question:

If Was the abuse and/or intimidation triggered by specific events? = Yes

18. What was the event that triggered the abuse? 

If there have been multiple incidents please tick all that apply and provide clarification below

Campaigning for elections (1)

Taking up my role (2)

A particular decision (3)

Other (please specify) (4)

Don’t know/unsure (5)

Display This Question:

If Was the abuse and/or intimidation triggered by specific events? = Yes

19. If you would like to provide any clarification regarding the event(s) that triggered the abuse you may do so here (Max 800 characters)

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Display This Question:

If Did you experience a single incident or have there been multiple incidents? = Multiple incidents perpetrated by the same person

Or Did you experience a single incident or have there been multiple incidents? = Multiple incidents perpetrated by different people

Or Did you experience a single incident or have there been multiple incidents? = Multiple incidents perpetrated by an unknown number of people i.e. not known whether by the same person or different people

20. Is the abuse ongoing?

Yes (1)

No (2)

Don't know/unsure (3)

Display This Question:

If Your experiences of abuse and/or intimidation    Have you ever experienced abuse and/or intimidation... = Yes, abuse

Or Your experiences of abuse and/or intimidation    Have you ever experienced abuse and/or intimidation... = Yes, intimidation

Or Your experiences of abuse and/or intimidation    Have you ever experienced abuse and/or intimidation... = Yes, abuse and intimidation

Or Your experiences of abuse and/or intimidation    Have you ever experienced abuse and/or intimidation... = Yes, other (please specify below)

21. Please provide brief details of the abuse and/or intimidation you have experienced (max 800 characters)

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Display This Question:

If Your experiences of abuse and/or intimidation    Have you ever experienced abuse and/or intimidation... = Yes, abuse

Or Your experiences of abuse and/or intimidation    Have you ever experienced abuse and/or intimidation... = Yes, intimidation

Or Your experiences of abuse and/or intimidation    Have you ever experienced abuse and/or intimidation... = Yes, abuse and intimidation

Or Your experiences of abuse and/or intimidation    Have you ever experienced abuse and/or intimidation... = Yes, other (please specify below)

22. Did you seek support in relation to the abuse and/or intimidation you experienced?

Yes (1)

No (2)

Display This Question:

If Did you seek support in relation to the abuse and/or intimidation you experienced? = Yes

23. From whom did you seek support?

Please tick all that apply

Peers i.e. other councillors (1)

Your political party office (2)

Council officers (3)

Police (4)

Friends and/or family (5)

Other (please specify below) (6)

Display This Question:

If Did you seek support in relation to the abuse and/or intimidation you experienced? = Yes

Carry Forward Selected Choices - Entered Text from "From whom did you seek support? Please tick all that apply"

24. How helpful was the support provided by...

 

 

Display This Question:

If Did you seek support in relation to the abuse and/or intimidation you experienced? = Yes

 

25. Please provide brief details about the support provided (max 800 characters)

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Display This Question:

If Did you seek support in relation to the abuse and/or intimidation you experienced? = No

 

26. Please provide brief details about why you did not seek any support (max 800 characters)

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Display This Question:

If When did you last serve as a councillor? != Never

27. Have you taken any actions to avoid intimidation and/or abuse, or to protect yourself? e.g. using rules of engagement, installing security systems, avoiding social media

Yes (1)

No (2)

Display This Question:

If Have you taken any actions to avoid intimidation and/or abuse, or to protect yourself? e.g. using... = Yes

28. Please provide brief details about the action(s) you have taken (max 800 characters)

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Abuse and/or intimidation of others 

29. Have you ever witnessed abuse and/or intimidation, directed at others, from a member of the public, or persons unknown, as a result of, or in relation to their role as a councillor or candidate standing for election?

Yes (1)

No (2)

Don't know/unsure (3)

30. How many times, have you witnessed abuse and/or intimidation?

Once (1)

Between two and five times (2)

Between six and 10 times (3)

More than 10 times (4)

Other (please specify below) (5)

Don't know/unsure (6)

31. Where did the abuse and/or intimidation occur?

In person (1)

On social media e.g. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram (2)

Online meeting platform e.g. Zoom, Teams, Skype, Facetime (3)

Online written communication e.g. email, WhatsApp, Messenger (4)

Verbally by telephone, including voice messages (5)

Written by telephone e.g. SMS messages, texts (6)

By post, including messages and/or articles put through letterbox (7)

Other (please specify below) (8)

32. Please provide brief details about the abuse and/or intimidation you witnessed (max 800 characters)

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Display This Question:

If Did you experience a single incident or have there been multiple incidents? = Single incident

Or Did you experience a single incident or have there been multiple incidents? = Multiple incidents perpetrated by the same person

Or Did you experience a single incident or have there been multiple incidents? = Multiple incidents perpetrated by different people

Or Did you experience a single incident or have there been multiple incidents? = Multiple incidents perpetrated by an unknown number of people i.e. not known whether by the same person or different people

Impact of abuse and/or intimidation 

33. Please provide brief details about the impact of abuse and/or intimidation on you as a councillor or candidate for political office and personally (max 800 characters)

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Display This Question:

If Did you experience a single incident or have there been multiple incidents? = Single incident

Or Did you experience a single incident or have there been multiple incidents? = Multiple incidents perpetrated by the same person

Or Did you experience a single incident or have there been multiple incidents? = Multiple incidents perpetrated by different people

Or Did you experience a single incident or have there been multiple incidents? = Multiple incidents perpetrated by an unknown number of people i.e. not known whether by the same person or different people

34. Will you be standing for election at the next local elections for your area?

Yes (1)

No (2)

Not yet decided (3)

Display This Question:

If Will you be standing for election at the next local elections for your area? = No

Or Will you be standing for election at the next local elections for your area? = Not yet decided

35. Has the possibility of abuse and/or intimidation influenced your position on whether to stand?

Yes (1)

No (2)

Not yet decided (3)

Display This Question:

If Has the possibility of abuse and/or intimidation influenced your position on whether to stand? = Yes

36. Please provide brief details on how the possibility of abuse and/or intimidation has influenced your position on whether to stand (max 800 characters)

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Display This Question:

If Did you experience a single incident or have there been multiple incidents? = Single incident

Or Did you experience a single incident or have there been multiple incidents? = Multiple incidents perpetrated by the same person

Or Did you experience a single incident or have there been multiple incidents? = Multiple incidents perpetrated by different people

Or Did you experience a single incident or have there been multiple incidents? = Multiple incidents perpetrated by an unknown number of people i.e. not known whether by the same person or different people

37. Are you aware of others being unwilling to stand or re-stand for election, or take on leadership roles, due to anticipated abuse and/or intimidation?

Yes (1)

No (2)

Don't know/unsure (3)

Display This Question:

If Are you aware of others being unwilling to stand or re-stand for election, or take on leadership... = Yes

38. Please provide brief details on how the possibility of abuse and/or intimidation has influenced other people's position on whether to stand (max 800 characters)

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Dealing with abuse and/or intimidation

  

39. In your opinion, what more, if anything, could be done by the police, the council or any other relevant agent to prevent abuse and/or intimidation of councillors? (max 800 characters)

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40. In your opinion, what more could be done by the police, the council or any other relevant agent to address abuse and/or intimidation of councillors when it occurs? (max 800 characters)

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Display This Question:

If When did you last serve as a councillor? != Never

Or When did you last serve as a councillor? = Never

And In which capacity are you providing evidence? = A past candidate (including past candidates intending to stand again)

Or When did you last serve as a councillor? = Never

And In which capacity are you providing evidence? = A future candidate (including confirmed and potential candidates)

About you 

41. Finally, we would like to know more about you. There is evidence that individuals with certain protected characteristics experience more abuse and intimidation than others generally and specifically with reference to feeling able to engage with democracy. In gathering specific information about you, we hope to create an evidence base about who is effected by abuse and intimidation in public life and what further ramifications this may have on local democracy. Your replies will be treated confidentially. 

Display This Question:

If When did you last serve as a councillor? != Never

Or When did you last serve as a councillor? = Never

And In which capacity are you providing evidence? = A past candidate (including past candidates intending to stand again)

Or When did you last serve as a councillor? = Never

And In which capacity are you providing evidence? = A future candidate (including confirmed and potential candidates)

Your consent



This section of the survey will collect and process special category data in relation to your gender, age group, ethnicity, sexual orientation and religion, which we do under condition (a) of Article 9(2) that the subject has given explicit consent for the processing of their data for such purposes and conditions. 

 

Please confirm that you agree to us processing and holding this data:    

I agree to the LGA processing my special category data as laid out in Article 9(2)(a) of the Data Protection Act 2018 

 

Yes, I agree (1)

No, I do not agree (2)

Display This Question:

If When did you last serve as a councillor? != Never

Or When did you last serve as a councillor? = Never

And In which capacity are you providing evidence? = A past candidate (including past candidates intending to stand again)

Or When did you last serve as a councillor? = Never

And In which capacity are you providing evidence? = A future candidate (including confirmed and potential candidates)

In line with our privacy policy, which is published at www.local.gov.uk/privacy-policy-0, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time.



If you do not consent for the LGA to collect and process your age group, gender and ethnicity information, these questions will not be displayed.



If you do consent, all of the questions will be voluntary and can be answered as 'Prefer not to say'.

42. What is your sex? (As registered at birth)

This question is voluntary

Male (1)

Female (2)

Prefer not to say (3)

43. Is the gender you identify with the same as your sex registered at birth?

This question is voluntary

Yes (1)

No (please specify your gender identity) (2)

Prefer not to say (3)

44. What is your age group?

 This question is voluntary

Up to 24 (1)

25-34 (2)

35-49 (3)

50-64 (4)

65 and above (5)

Prefer not to say (6)

45. What is your ethnic group?

This question is voluntary

English / Welsh / Scottish / Northern Irish / British (1)

Irish (2)

Gypsy or Irish Traveller (3)

Roma (4)

Any other White background (please specify below) (5)

White and Black Caribbean (6)

White and Black African (7)

White and Asian (8)

Any other Mixed or Multiple background (please specify below) (9)

Indian (10)

Pakistani (11)

Bangladeshi (12)

Chinese (13)

Any other Asian background (please specify) (14)

Caribbean (15)

African (16)

Any other Black, Black British or Caribbean background (please specify below) (17)

Arab (18)

Any other ethnic group (please specify below) (19)

Prefer not to say (20)

46. Which of the following best describes your sexual orientation? This question is voluntary

Straight or Heterosexual (1)

Gay or Lesbian (2)

Bisexual (3)

Other sexual orientation (please specify below) (4)

Prefer not to say (5)

47. What is your religion?

 This question is voluntary

No religion (1)

Christian (all denominations) (2)

Buddhist (3)

Hindu (4)

Jewish (5)

Muslim (6)

Sikh (7)

Any other religion (please specify below) (8)

Prefer not to say (9)

48. Do you have any physical or mental health conditions or illnesses lasting or expected to last 12 months or more?

 This question is voluntary

Yes (1)

No (2)

Prefer not to say (3)

Display This Question:

If Do you have any physical or mental health conditions or illnesses lasting or expected to last 12... = Yes

49. Do any of your conditions or illnesses reduce your ability to carry out day to day activities?

 This question is voluntary

Yes, a lot (1)

Yes, a little (2)

Not at all (3)

Prefer not to say (4)

50. Any other comments

  

If there is anything else you would like to add may do so here (max 800 characters)

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51. Would you be happy for us to contact you about the information you have provided?

Yes (1)

No (2)

Display This Question:

If Would you be happy for us to contact you about the information you have provided? = Yes

52. How would you like us to contact you?

Please tick all that apply

Phone (please provide the number you would like us to use) (1)

Email (please provide the email address you would like us to use) (2)

Other (Please specify) (3)

Once you press the 'Submit' button below, you will have completed the survey. 

Many thanks for taking the time to complete this survey. You are in control of any personal data that you have provided to us in your response. You can contact us at all times to have your information changed or deleted. You can find our full privacy policy here: click here to see our privacy policy