eignbridge District Council is set to decide whether to adopt a national campaign aimed at tackling abuse and intimidation of councillors, with proposals calling for a zero-tolerance approach towards harassment of elected members and council officers.
Members will consider recommendations to formally adopt the Local Government Association’s Debate Not Hate campaign when Full Council meets on Tuesday, July 28.
If approved, the authority would sign the campaign’s public statement and publicly commit to opposing abuse, intimidation and harassment directed at councillors and officers in all forms, including online. The recommendations also propose that the chair of the council writes to local Members of Parliament and the police to confirm the authority’s support for the campaign.
The proposals have been referred to Full Council following consideration by the Governance Committee, which recommended that Teignbridge District Council adopts the campaign after reviewing the initiative and its aims.
According to the report, the Debate Not Hate campaign was launched by the Local Government Association in 2022 following research which found that seven out of 10 councillors had experienced abuse from members of the public during the previous year. Further research in 2022 and 2025 concluded that abuse and intimidation in public life is becoming increasingly normalised and is affecting local democracy.
The report states that the campaign aims to raise awareness of the role councillors play within their communities, encourage healthy democratic debate and improve support for local politicians who experience abuse or intimidation.
As part of the initiative, councils are encouraged to sign a public statement calling on local government leaders, the Government, police, political parties and social media companies to work together to address abuse directed at elected members and candidates. More than 800 councillors have already signed the statement, while Cornwall Council, Devon County Council and Torbay Council have adopted the campaign through their own council resolutions, according to the report.
If the recommendations are approved, Teignbridge District Council would also commit to strengthening reporting arrangements for abuse, providing guidance and training for councillors, working with police and other agencies, promoting respectful debate during council meetings and encouraging political group leaders to reinforce expected standards of behaviour. Members would also receive information about available support and reporting routes.
The report says the financial implications are expected to be minimal and met from existing budgets, while there are no direct legal, environmental or climate change implications because joining the campaign is voluntary. It also notes that annual reports would be presented to the Governance Committee to review the campaign’s adoption and councillor safety if the proposals are agreed.
For further information about the Debate Not Hate campaign, visit the Local Government Association website, as referenced in the council report.
