Security measures for Wiltshire’s MPs under review

Wiltshire PCC Philip Wilkinson has responded after the horrific murder of Southend MP Sir David Amess last week at a constituency surgery.

The PCC said it was important that democracy should continue but said that current security measures would be looked at, inline with any Government reviewed security guidance, for Wiltshire's MPs.

He said: "I’ve taken time over the past few days to contact all of our county’s MPs following the horrific death of Sir David Amess on Friday.

"This awful event has shocked the entire country and will rightly concern all those elected to represent the public.

"I have been briefed by the Chief Constable on the local response and Wiltshire Police has made contact with all MPs in the county and are assessing what more needs to be done to ensure our elected representatives are able to continue to carry out their important work within their constituencies.

"We all know that when you are in public service the threat to you is going to be higher than if you are not and I’m really proud of our MPs in that they have not made a huge fuss, they just want us to reassure them they are taking the right measures.

"We will now look at any protective measures the Government may now outline, as a response, and ensure they are implemented here in Wiltshire.

"Sir David’s family have called for us to ‘set aside hatred and work towards togetherness'. We must now stand together to condemn attacks on any democratically-elected individual and reaffirm that abuse, violence and intimidation will never be tolerated, regardless of political affiliation.

"This horrific attack is a direct assault on our democracy and my thoughts and sympathies are with Sir David's loved ones at this very difficult time."