Police protection for politicians widened beyond MPs

The Home Secretary has expanded police protection for politicians who are not sitting MPs, with immediate effect, and ordered an independent review of the state’s security arrangements for public life. Shabana Mahmood announced the changes in an oral statement to the Commons on Monday 12 October, three months after the killing of Ann Widdecombe at her home in Devon.

Mahmood told MPs: “It is clear there is insufficient protection for those who serve.” The Home Office said the aim is to ensure those most at risk are better protected amid rising threats.

Who is covered beyond Parliament

According to the Home Office, dedicated police support will be expanded to leaders of political parties who are not MPs, peers, former MPs, former members of the devolved parliaments and political party spokespeople. In the Commons, Mahmood said this would give them access to a named police officer, as well as help with wider security measures. The BBC reported that she did not elaborate on what the support would involve.

Until now, according to the BBC, decisions on the security of current MPs and members of the House of Lords have been made by Parliament’s security team. A separate body, the Royal and VIP Executive Committee, deals with high-profile political candidates and is staffed by officials from the Home Office, the Cabinet Office and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The published material does not say how the new support will sit alongside those arrangements.

The threat figures behind the change

The government points to heightened risks for people in politics. In May’s local elections, the Electoral Commission found that 55% of all candidates experienced some form of harassment and intimidation, the same proportion as at the 2024 general election.

Figures released to the BBC in April show the scale of reported offences against MPs. MPs reported 4,064 crimes to the Metropolitan Police’s Parliamentary Liaison Team between 2019 and 2025, most of them malicious communications, followed by harassment and criminal damage to a building.

On those figures, alleged offences rose by about 168% over six years, and death threats by about 61% in a year. Those percentages are our calculation from the BBC’s numbers.

Cost and criteria: the open questions

None of the published material puts a figure on the cost of the expanded police support, or says how many people will qualify. The Home Office said any recommendations from the review must ensure arrangements “meet the current threat whilst providing value for money for the taxpayer”.

The review, led by Sir Stephen Lovegrove, the former national security adviser, will examine whether funding and measures are used effectively and proportionately, and how decision-making can be more consistent in response to threat and risk. It will not assess individual cases.

Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, told LBC that a national process assesses who needs personal police protection and that “there are a small number of tens of individuals who justify that”. He said the decisions are made by a government committee.

Reaction was broadly welcoming. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp backed the extension, while Reform UK’s Zia Yusuf called it disappointing that it took Widdecombe’s killing to prompt action. The Jo Cox Foundation said physical security alone was not enough and urged action on online harms and education.

What happens next

The expanded support applies now. Mahmood said the Lovegrove review will report within six months, which points to around April 2027, although the Home Office said the terms of reference and timeframe are subject to agreement with Sir Stephen.

It will build on Sir Robert Buckland’s separate review into the murder of Sir David Amess, which will consider the security of MPs in their constituencies. Mahmood also said the Independent Office of Police Conduct is investigating the police response to an attempted break-in at Nigel Farage’s home last year, and she expects it to conclude early next year.

Joshua Kerry, 28, has been charged with Widdecombe’s murder. Separately, Mahmood said that on 2 October a suspect was charged with a terrorism offence, which includes an allegation of preparing an act of terror against the Reform UK leader. Charges are allegations, and anyone charged is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.