🔐 A Hard Truth We Keep Seeing
🔴 SECURITY ANALYSIS
While MPs now have structured protection, thousands of other public figures face the same hostility with far less support. Councillors, mayors, and police and crime commissioners often operate with little more than goodwill, habit, and luck.
👤 Philip Grindell MSc CSyP
Founder & CEO, Defuse Global
🕯️ The murder of Jo Cox MP (2016) remains a sharp reminder of the risks faced by those in public life. Her death triggered rapid action—extra security measures, specialist police contacts, and millions invested.
⚠️ But here’s the uncomfortable truth: while MPs now have structured protection, thousands of other public figures are facing the same hostility with far less support.
🎖️ I know this world well.
After Jo Cox was killed, I built and led the Parliamentary Liaison & Investigation Team at Scotland Yard. As national lead for Operation Bridger, I developed the protective network for MPs across the UK. It is because of this experience and knowledge that I am now sought after to advise local and national politicians and public figures on how to operate safely.
❗ And what I’ve seen since? Too many people are being left dangerously exposed.
🛑 A System Losing Its Grip
Operation Bridger was built to bring consistency and proactive support. By April 2025, Security Minister Dan Jarvis admitted that the service had become “inconsistent across the UK.”
When systems aren’t maintained, they fade. Simple as that.
Operation Ford was introduced to provide councillors and others with a point of contact through Force Elected-Official Advisers. But here’s the reality:
🔴 It’s reactive, not protective
🔴 You still rely on 999 or 101
🔴 It’s briefing and signposting—not security
For people facing targeted anger, that difference is enormous.
🎯 Accessibility Is the Real Risk
Most people misunderstand targeted violence.
👉 The danger isn’t about status. It’s about who’s easiest to reach.
Those who pose a threat aren’t impressed by titles—they’re fuelled by fixation. A councillor opposing a planning application can attract the same dangerous attention as a cabinet minister, simply because they’re easier to get close to.
Routine public duties make you predictable:
📍 Advertised meetings
📍 Regular surgery locations
📍 Home addresses are sometimes published
📍 Predictable weekly patterns
Anyone planning harm studies these details like a predator charting a path.
😔 Abuse That Wears People Down
Violence is only one part of the threat picture. Daily abuse—much of it coordinated or obsessive—aims to intimidate, influence decisions, and wear people down.
📊 Key figures (as shown in your PDF boxes):
🧨 39% of MPs have received calls for harm
🧨 27% have received death threats
🧨 70% of councillors report abuse yearly
The psychological toll is heavy: anxiety, depression, fear of leaving home, and reluctance to stand again. This erosion of confidence is a danger to democracy just as much as physical violence.
🧰 Practical Steps Elected Officials Can Take
Without structured protection, many have no choice but to take ownership of their own safety. Here’s where to start:
1️⃣ Review your digital footprint
💻 Be aware of what’s publicly available about your home, family, and daily routines. Threat actors research online first, always.
2️⃣ Break predictable patterns
♻️ Small changes in routine make a big difference to your security.
3️⃣ Reassess where and how you hold surgeries
🏛️ Consider location, timing, visibility, and who you’re with.
4️⃣ No home visits alone
🚫 The risk isn’t worth it. Always have someone accompany you.
5️⃣ Improve basic home and office security
🔐 Locks, cameras, lighting. Simple measures, tangible impact.
6️⃣ Keep structured records of concerning behaviour
🗂️ Patterns are only visible when the information is gathered and appropriately reviewed.
🔒 Closing the Gap
At Defuse Global, we work with public figures who recognise that advice and genuine protection are not the same thing.
With three decades of experience—including training from Dr Robert Fein of the US Secret Service—we offer expertise that most public figures cannot access elsewhere.
🛠️ What We Provide
⬛ 🔍 Communication analysis
⬛ 🔐 Digital exposure assessments
⬛ 📉 Risk interpretation
⬛ 💬 Confidence restoration
This isn’t about building walls or living in fear. It’s about enabling people to serve without being left to fend for themselves.
