- Mitie is updating bodyguard vetting after an officer with far-right links was assigned to an MP.
- Threats against politicians have reached record levels, mirroring dangers from the 1970s and 1980s.
- Government officials and security agencies are working to protect democratic institutions from rising intimidation.
The security firm Mitie is enhancing its vetting procedures for close protection operatives. This change follows an incident where a bodyguard with far-right connections was assigned to an MP targeted by extremists. The company, which holds a 31 million pound contract, will now implement regular social media checks for new and existing staff.
Political representatives are facing a dangerous rise in harassment and violent threats. Current levels of risk are compared to the threats posed by Irish republican terrorists in the 1970s and 1980s. This environment includes a record number of crimes against MPs, with cases nearly doubling to almost 1,000 annually by March.
Recent events highlight the severity of these risks. Chris Webb, the MP for Blackpool South, reported constant death threats from the far right. Meanwhile, Green MP Hannah Spencer required a police escort after being targeted by men. These incidents follow the murders of David Amess and Jo Cox by terrorists.
The security minister, Dan Jarvis, described the current volume of threats as completely unprecedented in scale. He noted that women and ethnic minorities suffer the most abuse, including racial and sexual threats. Such intimidation creates a chilling effect on women considering a career in public office.
To counter these risks, the Defending Democracy taskforce works across government to protect democratic institutions. The parliamentary security department, established in 2016, provides guidance to staff. Following the 2021 death of David Amess, the government reviewed security for constituency events and introduced new training.
Mitie maintains that all its officers possess mandatory Security Industry Authority licences. A company spokesperson stated that their priority is the safety of those they protect. They affirmed that appropriate action is taken immediately if their high professional standards are not upheld by employees.
