'I received death threat over red route plan' says Luton councillor

Labour Central councillor Mohammed Hanif raised the issue at a borough council standards committee meeting during a discussion about social media guidance.

“The first time it happened they put up AI images of me holding a machete,” he told the committee.

At a full council meeting earlier this month, his Labour Dallow colleague Alia Khan spoke about death threats being made to councillors over the previous administration’s plans to introduce an experimental red route in Bury Park.

“What’s the approach to such websites or Facebook pages?” asked councillor Hanif. “It’s taken up quite a bit of Bedfordshire Police’s time.

“I’ve had to have police interviews and protection because of the abuse. Should councillors engage with those kind of platforms, which then target us as members?

“The particular post was only taken down when someone rang them up and said it needs to be removed because a death threat has been made against a councillor.

“As much as we can, we should look out for each other because we’re here to represent the public. What are your thoughts about these kind of platforms which are there to incite hatred?”

LBC’s monitoring officer Mark Turner explained: “The guidance does include some advice regarding engaging with such sites.

“If threats are being made and if criminal intent is evident, then it’s certainly a matter for the police. No guidance I can produce can help in that situation. It’s absolutely right that should be reported to the police and they should act on it.

“The guidance suggests you shouldn’t get drawn into debates on those kinds of site, where at worst they make you feel unsafe.”

Councillor Hanif added: “My question is should any elected members of the council give legitimacy to that kind of site?

“We belong to political parties and groups, and we’ve our own platforms, which for the most part give out positive images of the borough. It only took a firm phone call from the police and the council for them to remove that particular post.

“We should feel free from fear of intimidation and other forms of threat to represent our area and our residents.”

Independent Alliance Group Northwell councillor Rob Roche, who chairs the committee, asked whether the council logs such complaints where there are threats online, as “it would be useful to understand the frequency of these”.

Mr Turner replied: “No, because they’re not generally brought to my attention in the way it has here this evening.

“If members wish me to establish a record of such matters which have been reported to the police, then I’m happy to and can eventually notify this committee.

“It’s clear a threat to any person in public life is a threat to all of us in public life. We shouldn’t be engaging with, supporting or collaborating with things such as this. This should be treated with the appropriate reaction that it deserves.”

The committee agreed a recommendation to adopt the guidance on the use of social media by councillors as an Appendix to the council’s Code of Conduct.