Personal Security

We at w4mp are shocked at the news that Sir David Amess, MP for Southend West has died from his injuries after having been attacked at his advice surgery this afternoon. We offer our sincere condolences to his family, friends and staff at this awful time.

Members and their staff need to remain alert and be aware of their security. Please do read our guide here: https://w4mp.org/w4mp/w4mp-guides/guides-to-parliament/security-at-westminster-and-in-constituency-offices/ for information about the support which is available to you.

The Members’ Security Support Service (MSSS) provides guidance, advice and support to members of both Houses and their staff, about security away from the Parliamentary Estate. You can call them on 020 7219 2244 if you wish to discuss anything related to security and personal safety.

Security away from Parliament, including at advice surgeries and in constituency offices: https://parlinet.parliament.uk/working-here/lords-staff-handbook/about-house-of-lords/security/

A Short Guide to Police Complaints

The House of Commons Library has produced a research briefing for MPs and their staff to help them to deal with casework involving dissatisfaction with the police including:

understanding the police complaints system
where to find further information about police complaints
how to help constituents make complaints
how to help constituents who have already made complaints
and much more

You can find it here: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9053/

Hotline numbers for Members of the UK, Scottish and Welsh Parliaments, the Northern Ireland Assembly and their staff

The Hotlines List contains contacts for government departments, government bodies and many other useful organisation. Only those who have an account on their relevant parliamentary network will be able to access the list. We can not share this list with anyone not on a parliamentary network.

These hotline numbers are for the use of MPs, MSPs, Members of the Senedd and their staff ONLY. DO NOT disclose these numbers to members of the public or to staff in other agencies or the facility may be withdrawn.

Quick links:

Hotlines List on the UK Parliament intranet

Hotlines list for the Scottish Parliament

Hotlines list for the Senedd Cymru – it is password protected and authorised staff should call the Customer Relations Team on 0300 200 6481 for access.

Here’s something which is available to the public: CEO email addresses: http://www.ceoemail.com/

IMPORTANT: Are you using the correct hotlines list?

Please don’t download or print out the whole list and keep it on your desk, as you risk using out-of-date information – as well as using up an enormous amount of paper – it’s over 200 pages long! The list is updated frequently, sometimes several times a day, so please make sure you are using the most recent version If you bookmark it, you’ll always be using the correct one.

Whilst MPs have certain Parliamentary privileges in relation to the authority to act for their constituents, this is not always extended to Members of the Scottish Parliament, or Members of the Senedd, so they must obtain written consent from their constituents. In any case, it is good practice for all representatives, including Members of the UK Parliament, to obtain written consent whenever possible, in order to prevent any potential delays.

The list is updated when there are changes and represents the latest information we have. If you are an organisation which would like to be added to the list please let us know, using the website’s Feedback Form.

We have been asked by one or two agencies to encourage MPs, MSs and their staff to be sure to use these hotline numbers and NOT the numbers available for the general public. Here’s what they say: “Some Members and their staff continue to use the public enquiry line which means we are not always able to give the prompt reply that both they and we would like to happen.”