Key information
Request reference number: MGLA040424-0098
Date of response:
Summary of request
You requested:
- Can I re-submit this response from nearly two years ago as an FOI so it has updated figures, please?
- On how many occasions have GLA Members reported abuse from public in 2022-2023, 2023-2024
- On how many occasions have GLA staff reported abuse from public in 2022-2023, 2023-2024
- Does the GLA record figures on abuse that Sadiq Khan receives on social media? And if so, please share this. (e.g. despite the FOI response suggesting there were a few dozen instances of abuse, here https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2023/jul/05/rise-in-racist-abuse-against-sadiq-khan-linked-to-london-clean-air-zone-expansion you suggest that there have been hundreds of thousands, so clarity on definitions would help).
Our response:
I can confirm that the GLA holds information within the scope of your request.
The Public Liaison Unit (PLU) staff are responsible for identifying abusive enquiries when they receive enquiries from Mayoral channels e.g. email, contact form, letters and telephone calls. Therefore, if there is something serious then they report that to the security team and they in turn contact the police.
There is very little direct reporting done by GLA members or policy staff to the police which they would be aware of as they focus on their channels and sometimes referrals for advice.
Regarding vexatious enquiries (correspondence and phone calls where they identified abusive contact) the figures are below.
2022-2023 - 2 cases
2023-2024 - 0 cases
The GLA’s Security team holds a log of abusive and threatening contact which was reported to the Police. This only includes information related to the Mayor and the Assembly Members and does not include others members of staff.
The total approximate figure for 2023 is 34 and for 2024 so far is 15.
Regarding social media the communications team do occasionally look at the level of abuse the Mayor receives, but it is extremely time-intensive work, so they do not regularly report on this. They have no plans to do any more research in the near future.
The Head of Digital Communications was not aware of any FOI response in which it was stated that the Mayor receives ‘a few dozens’ abusive messages so we are unable to comment on this article.