‘Welcome packs’ for new MPs will feature devices with GPS trackers that can alert police in an emergency
Liz Perkins21 July 2024 • 6:04am
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New MPs in Westminster have been given a panic alarm as security measures are beefed up following rising threats.
They have been added into the Commons “welcome packs” for the first time as politicians face death threats.
The move has been reported in the wake of former US President Donald Trump being attacked.
One veteran MP, in an interview with the Mail on Sunday, said: “There is an assumption that there’s a level of risk for all parliamentarians that never existed before.”
Police can alert a rapid response unit when the alarms are activated as they have GPS trackers.
MPs have previously been able to access the devices on request following the death of Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016.
But the panic alarms have now been given out automatically to the 335 new MPs.
Labour MP Naz Shah said: “Never before did I think I would be physically attacked like I did on this campaign.
“It was pure hooliganism. They were young angry men.”
Last year, the Home Office pledged a £31 million package of measures to tackle the threat to MPs’ security.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle this month said he has “never seen anything as bad” as the present threat level.
“If there’s something that keeps me awake at night, it is the safety of MPs,” he added.
On being given their alarm, one new MP said: “The Speaker is putting much more emphasis on MPs’ safety than ever before.”
The devices are said to have unique codes to help identify which MP has activated them.
They were given to MPs during induction sessions and demonstrations were staged on how to use the devices.