| answer text |
<p>The safety of our elected representatives is essential to the security of our country.
Protecting our democratic values and processes is one of the most important duties
of government. That is why the Government will take every possible step to safeguard
the people, processes, and institutions upon which our democracy relies.</p><p> </p><p>On
28th February the Prime Minister announced the Government was investing an additional
£31 million in funding to protect the democratic process and our elected representatives.
The funding is being used to strengthen protective security measures for MPs and locally
elected representatives over the next year.</p><p> </p><p>Through the funding we are
enhancing police capabilities, increasing private sector security provision for those
facing a higher risk, and expanding cyber security advice to elected representatives.
The investment also enables the expansion of the Operation BRIDGER network, so that
every elected representative and candidate is given a dedicated, named police contact
to liaise with on security matters, where needed. Through this network all candidates
will have access to security briefings in the run up to the General Election.</p><p>
</p><p>The funding is accompanied by a new Defending Democracy Policing Protocol,
agreed with police to enhance the safety of elected representatives, and protect the
UK’s democratic process from disruption. Further information about the Protocol is
available on GOV.UK.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, the Defending Democracy Taskforce
has supported the Westminster Parliamentary authorities and the National Cyber Security
Centre to develop and roll out an enhanced cyber security offer for Parliamentarians
and their teams to better protect them against cyber-attacks and foreign interference.
As part of the £31 million uplift, the Taskforce is now seeking to extend this offer
to other elected officials including the Devolved Authorities and is working closely
with staff from the Devolved Authorities to do so.</p>
|
|
