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| Some MPs think putting up with violent behaviour is part of their job. It isn’t Some MPs think putting up with violent behaviour is part of their job. It isn’t | |
| (3 months later) | |
| After the shocking death of Jo Cox, it will have come as a surprise to many how much aggressive behaviour and violence MPs routinely put up with. A recent survey of Westminster MPs by Fixated Threat Assessment Centre showed that 80% have endured aggressive behaviour from constituents. Nearly 20% have been subject to attack or attempted attack during their parliamentary careers. Research shows that this is not solely a UK problem, but is common to all western democracies. | After the shocking death of Jo Cox, it will have come as a surprise to many how much aggressive behaviour and violence MPs routinely put up with. A recent survey of Westminster MPs by Fixated Threat Assessment Centre showed that 80% have endured aggressive behaviour from constituents. Nearly 20% have been subject to attack or attempted attack during their parliamentary careers. Research shows that this is not solely a UK problem, but is common to all western democracies. |
| It is something of an irony that the UK is an international leader in the field of preventing harm to politicians, after the Home Office funded a major research effort in 2003, which I led. | It is something of an irony that the UK is an international leader in the field of preventing harm to politicians, after the Home Office funded a major research effort in 2003, which I led. |
| The results from this were clear. Serious attacks on politicians are almost all the work of mentally ill, isolated loners, who have been nursing a grievance, often for years, which they sometimes wrap in a political flag. Crucially, most of these people had given warnings of what they might do, in the form of aggressive letters and problematic approaches to the MP. | The results from this were clear. Serious attacks on politicians are almost all the work of mentally ill, isolated loners, who have been nursing a grievance, often for years, which they sometimes wrap in a political flag. Crucially, most of these people had given warnings of what they might do, in the form of aggressive letters and problematic approaches to the MP. |
| A good example is that of the MP Nigel Jones. The man who attacked him and killed his aide had visited the surgery in an angry, paranoid state more than 50 times. But no action had been taken. The finding about such warning behaviours was important because it offered a way to identify risky individuals before they engaged in any violence. | A good example is that of the MP Nigel Jones. The man who attacked him and killed his aide had visited the surgery in an angry, paranoid state more than 50 times. But no action had been taken. The finding about such warning behaviours was important because it offered a way to identify risky individuals before they engaged in any violence. |
| The research group recommended to the Home Office that a national unit be set up to assess and manage risks, and that this should be staffed by a combination of police and medical professionals, given the centrality of mental illness. Such an arrangement had never been tried. But the Home Office accepted the recommendations. This led to the formation of the Fixated Threat Assessment Centre in 2006 – worrying cases could be flagged up to FTAC for them to assess risk and intervene where necessary. | The research group recommended to the Home Office that a national unit be set up to assess and manage risks, and that this should be staffed by a combination of police and medical professionals, given the centrality of mental illness. Such an arrangement had never been tried. But the Home Office accepted the recommendations. This led to the formation of the Fixated Threat Assessment Centre in 2006 – worrying cases could be flagged up to FTAC for them to assess risk and intervene where necessary. |
| Finding out about warning behaviours was important because it offered a way to identify risky individuals | Finding out about warning behaviours was important because it offered a way to identify risky individuals |
| Such interventions often involved catalysing action by other services, such as arranging rapid compulsory admission to hospital. If the risk someone posed was based on delusional beliefs, then treating their illness promptly removed it. FTAC, of which I was a co-founder, rapidly achieved an international reputation, with a number of other countries setting up services along the same model. | Such interventions often involved catalysing action by other services, such as arranging rapid compulsory admission to hospital. If the risk someone posed was based on delusional beliefs, then treating their illness promptly removed it. FTAC, of which I was a co-founder, rapidly achieved an international reputation, with a number of other countries setting up services along the same model. |
| Such a system has weaknesses. One, of course, is that not all attacks can be stopped. And FTAC relies heavily upon cases being referred for assessment. Some MPs mistakenly believe that suffering aggressive behaviour is part of the job, and are concerned about “shopping” their constituents to the authorities. Yet intervention often results in mentally ill people being given the care they need. | Such a system has weaknesses. One, of course, is that not all attacks can be stopped. And FTAC relies heavily upon cases being referred for assessment. Some MPs mistakenly believe that suffering aggressive behaviour is part of the job, and are concerned about “shopping” their constituents to the authorities. Yet intervention often results in mentally ill people being given the care they need. |
| Another problem is that the system requires that MPs know about FTAC and recognise which cases to refer. But while they get a leaflet about FTAC, which they may or may not read, they are not given expert help in recognising which disturbed individuals are potentially dangerous. Perhaps it is inevitable that, when a new system is introduced with limited resources, the generals get the benefit of the service before the foot soldiers. It has long been a concern at FTAC that the best service is provided to those who are least at risk – the senior figures who are relatively well protected. The greater risk from fixated individuals, however, has always been to MPs in their constituencies. | Another problem is that the system requires that MPs know about FTAC and recognise which cases to refer. But while they get a leaflet about FTAC, which they may or may not read, they are not given expert help in recognising which disturbed individuals are potentially dangerous. Perhaps it is inevitable that, when a new system is introduced with limited resources, the generals get the benefit of the service before the foot soldiers. It has long been a concern at FTAC that the best service is provided to those who are least at risk – the senior figures who are relatively well protected. The greater risk from fixated individuals, however, has always been to MPs in their constituencies. |
| Plans have recently been mooted to expand the FTAC service to involve more proactive interaction with MPs. FTAC, in collaboration with Theseus LLP, a private offshoot set up to provide a service to public figures not in government employ, has designed a package to help constituency staff and MPs to identify cases that they should flag up for assessment. | Plans have recently been mooted to expand the FTAC service to involve more proactive interaction with MPs. FTAC, in collaboration with Theseus LLP, a private offshoot set up to provide a service to public figures not in government employ, has designed a package to help constituency staff and MPs to identify cases that they should flag up for assessment. |
| So far, no decision has been taken that this should be rolled out. Perhaps it now will. It is a sad fact of life that it often takes a tragedy to accelerate change. And whereas the risk from terrorism goes up and down with changes in the political wind, that from mentally ill loners will remain similar until a cure is found for psychotic illness. Some tightening of physical security may be necessary, but the key lies in prevention. | So far, no decision has been taken that this should be rolled out. Perhaps it now will. It is a sad fact of life that it often takes a tragedy to accelerate change. And whereas the risk from terrorism goes up and down with changes in the political wind, that from mentally ill loners will remain similar until a cure is found for psychotic illness. Some tightening of physical security may be necessary, but the key lies in prevention. |