Council leaders have joined forces with the Jo Cox Foundation to call for respect and civility towards candidates and officers running the local elections on 4 May.
The Local Government Association (LGA) and the foundation, formed after the murder of MP Jo Cox at her constituency office in 2016, are encouraging people to treat everyone involved in the elections with respect and dignity.
The elections will be the first when voters will be required to show personal ID at polling stations.
The appeal comes after a survey by the LGA last year found that 7 in 10 councillors faced abuse or intimidation between 2021-22 and just over a quarter (28 per cent) felt personally at risk in their role.
LGA vice-chair Izzi Seccombe said: ‘These upcoming elections are incredibly important in setting the future direction of our local communities.
‘The tens of thousands of people who are standing as candidates in them are doing a great public service.
‘Candidates and councillors want to engage with as many voters as possible during this election campaign.
‘However, they should not have to experience abuse, threats or any kind of harmful behaviour simply because of who they are, what they look like or their background.
‘We want all voters to treat candidates with respect and to engage in positive, constructive conversations and debates and make local democracy a welcoming environment for all.’
