Stormont: Special fund for MLA security to be set up

Currently, MLAs can pay for security measures out of an allowance to meet running costs but the new fund would be in addition to that.

The figure currently under consideration is £4,000 for each MLA.

The assembly commission said it would be “used exclusively for the provision of security measures at constituency offices and/or members’ private dwellings”.

Discussions are currently underway to determine how much each MLA could be offered.

During the recent Westminster election campaign, the head of the Electoral Commission, Cahir Hughes, said candidates had reported experiences of harassment and abuse, with women more likely than men to be targeted.

Additionally, MPs from Northern Ireland were briefed on security at Westminster last week and given panic alarms to alert police if they are in danger.

They they were also assigned a police liaison officer.

Speaking to the Nolan Show earlier this week, the speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly Edwin Poots said the funding from the assembly commission would help provide MLAs with things like security cameras and locks.

Mr Poots said the level of abuse now directed at elected politicians and their staff was completely unacceptable.