News

“This important report reflects our concerns around the growing threat to democracy and social cohesion posed by conspiracy theories, disinformation and extremist activity, in particular the appalling abuse of councillors."

“Councils want to work with government to protect local places from attacks."

People need to look out for common signs of domestic abuse this Christmas with domestic abuse-related crimes representing a higher percentage of all crimes in December than the rest of the year, the Local Government Association and Women’s Aid warn today.

"The Grenfell Tower fire has exposed a system for ensuring buildings that are safe which is not fit for purpose. The use and misuse of desktop studies is at the heart of the problem"

Responding to the Government’s announcement creating an Office for Product Safety and Standards, Cllr Simon Blackburn, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, said: “The LGA is pleased that its call for more support from government for local trading standards teams around product safety has been answered. “Today’s announcement is a positive step towards making sure that those teams are able to protect our residents from faulty electrical equipment, such as tumble dryers or fridge freezers, which can cause fires which can destroy life and devastate

"Violence Reduction Units are a valuable resource that are helping to reduce serious violence and crime, so it is extremely positive to see they will be extended to new areas and benefit from multi-year funding settlements."

Cllr Anita Lower, the LGA’s FGM lead spokesperson and Chair of the Advisory Board at the National FGM Centre, responds to new annual figures on the number of identified cases of FGM in England.

“We are pleased to see the planned extension of Project Adder, and it is good to see anti-social behaviour recognised as an issue to be tackled in this plan."

Cllr Simon Blackburn, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Safer and Stronger Communities Board, responds to today’s government announcement that a reduction in maximum stakes on fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) will be brought forward to April 2019.

Lord Porter responds to the latest building safety announcements made by Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick