MPs' security

To ensure that they can undertake their duties safely, MPs receive various kinds of support and funding for security. This explainer sets out the security assistance that MPs can receive and how this is funded.

What is the scale of security threats facing MPs?

Within the last decade, two MPs—Jo Cox and Sir David Amess—have been murdered.

In recent years, there have also been multiple instances of people prosecuted and, in some cases jailed, for making threats to MPs across the political spectrum. These have included death and rape threats sent to MPs via email and social media, as well as plots to murder MPs. Many MPs have publicly spoken about their experiences and the security measures they have had to take, which have included installing panic rooms; carrying panic alarms; changing their routes to and from their office; and installing bomb-proof letterboxes.  

Data on security threats is not always easy to compile. Multiple police forces may be involved, for example, or MPs may choose to report things in different ways. But the data that exists, as well as anecdotal evidence from MPs and staffers, shows that MPs of all political parties face real and significant threats to their security, and indicates that the volume of these threats has increased over the last decade.

The Metropolitan Police stated in 2019 that there had been “a clearly increased volume” of incidents affecting MPs. ²⁵ https://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/human-rights-committee/democracy-free-speech-and-freedom-of-associa…   They published data showing that MPs reported 151 alleged crimes to the police in 2017, rising to 342 in 2018: a 126% increase. ²⁶ https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/jt201919/jtselect/jtrights/37/3705.htm#_idTextAnchor017   Similarly, a 2019 BBC survey of MPs found that over 60% of those who responded had contacted the police about threats received in the previous year. ²⁷ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-49247808   In its 2022-23 annual report, the House of Commons stated that “the threat to MPs has increased and remains substantial.” ²⁸ https://www.parliament.uk/globalassets/documents/commons-expenditure/admin-annual-accounts/administration_annual_report_and_accounts_2022_23-accessib…  A survey of 224 MPs undertaken in spring 2025 by the Speaker’s Conference on the Security of Candidates, MPs, and Elections found that 39% of MPs had received calls for them to come to harm; 37% had received threats to hurt them; 27% had received death threats; and 25% had had people loiter around their homes or offices, following or filming them. Large proportions of MPs surveyed also reported receiving online abuse. ²⁹ https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cmselect/cmspeak/570/report.html#heading-6  

Police data suggests that female MPs and those from minority backgrounds are disproportionately targeted. The Speaker’s Conference on MPs’ also found this, with 56% of Black, Asian and minority ethnic MPs and 65% of disabled MPs reporting feeling unsafe during the 2024 election period—higher than the overall proportions of new and returning MPs (25% and 42% respectively) who said they felt unsafe. ³⁰ https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cmselect/cmspeak/570/report.html#heading-6  

Who is responsible for MPs’ security?

Because MPs’ roles are varied and are not confined to one location— they work both on the parliamentary estate and in their constituencies-- there are  multiple organisations with responsibility for their security. 

Parliamentary Estate

Inside parliament, the Parliamentary Security Department (PSD) has overall responsibility for the strategy, planning, and overall delivery of security. It works across the Commons and Lords. The PSD also works with the Metropolitan Police, who provide officers to police parliament. The Metropolitan Police also have a dedicated team based in the Palace of Westminster - the Parliamentary Liaison and Investigation Team (PLaIT) - which liaises with other police forces across the country and the PSD.  

Constituencies

Responsibility for MPs’ security outside of the parliamentary estate lies with the local police force, acting in concert with the PSD and the Parliamentary Liaison and Investigation Team within the Met. In 2016, the Operation Bridger programme gave every MP a named contact in their local police force to help deal with security issues.  

Following the launch of the Defending Democracy Policing Protocol in February 2024, Operation Bridger was extended to all candidates in general elections, as well as local officials such as councillors, mayors, and Police and Crime Commissioners (and candidates for those roles). These relationships are maintained by Force Elected Official Advisers, who sit in each police force in the UK and focus solely on advising and liaising with MPs and other representatives on security issues. ³¹ https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cmselect/cmspeak/570/report.html

What happens to MPs’ security during general elections?

When Parliament is dissolved ahead of a general election, all MPs cease to be MPs—even if they are standing at the election. This means they are no longer able to access the security measures offered by the PSD. Ahead of the 2024 general election, in recognition of the greater threats that MPs and candidates face, a new system of security measures for election periods was introduced.  

As part of this, under the Operation Regency programme, the Home Office took on the responsibility for providing security for candidates judged to need it on the basis of a risk assessment. Effectively, this meant that the government temporarily took on the protective security usually provided by Parliament for the duration of the election and expanded it to cover all candidates ³² https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cmselect/cmspeak/570/report.html . 

What security assistance can MPs receive and how is it funded?

Security assistance for MPs is broadly divided into two categories: ‘routine’ security (measures that are advised for all MPs) and ‘enhanced’ or ‘further’ security measures (which may be recommended by the police to some MPs depending on their individual circumstances).

Until April 2023, both forms of security measures were funded by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), which sets and regulates the payment of MPs’ pay, pensions and business costs. Both routine and further security measures were funded via IPSA’s security assistance budget.

Following changes to how MPs’ security is managed, since April 2023 routine security measures have been funded via the accommodation and office cost expenses that MPs can claim from IPSA, while further security measures are paid for by the House of Commons.  

The Home Office may also provide executive protection—a form of enhanced security—for people deemed by a risk assessment to be additional risk.  

Separately, MPs who are ministers may receive security personnel via the Home Office, either on their request or on the advice of a departmental security advisor.  

How much does security assistance for MPs cost?

The best data series on the cost of MPs’ security is from IPSA’s security assistance budget, which existed until April 2023 and paid for routine and further security measures.

In 2022-23, the last financial year in which all security assistance was paid for out of IPSA’s security assistance budget, spending was £3.3m. This was slightly lower than in the two previous financial years (£4.4m in both 2021-22 and 2020-21), but still over 80 times as high as in 2010/11. 

Since early 2016, a number of factors have combined to significantly increase the cost of MPs’ security. At the beginning of 2016, and following threats made to MPs in the wake of parliamentary debates over British military action in Syria, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) recommended that all MPs adopt a package of security measures.

As MPs began to adopt these measures, several tragic events highlighted the very real threats they faced: the murder of Jo Cox MP in June 2016,  then in March 2017 a terrorist attack killed six people outside the Houses of Parliament, including PC Keith Palmer, a police officer on duty. In light of these events, and earlier recommendations made by the National Police Chiefs’ Council on MPs’ security, spending increased significantly. In the 2017/18 financial year, a total of £4.2m was spent on providing additional security assistance to MPs. This was a more than 60% increase on the £2.6m spent in 2016/17 – and over £4m above the £171,000 spent in 2015/16.  

Although costs have varied since 2015/16, they have remained far higher than before, highlighting the much greater concerns about security. 

In February 2024, the government announced a separate £31m package of measures designed to boost MPs’ security as well as protect democratic processes more broadly. This was used to deliver the expansion of security to all elected representatives and candidates set out above.  

contact in the police to discuss security matters with (as set out above), as well as to expand some of the additional security support available to MPs.