Councillor threatened with rape after announcement on flag removal

FAMILY WORRIED ABOUT HER SAFETY AS SHE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO LEAVE HER HOME

- By ZENA HAWLEY

A DERBY councillor has been threatened with rape following a council decision to remove Union and St George flags from public spaces.

Councillor Sarah Chambers, who is the city council’s cabinet member for communities, equalities and public safety, said she had not left her home for two days following the threat earlier this week, during an interview with Ian Skye on BBC Radio Derby.

She has also posted about the incident on social media.

The city council issued a statement on Monday that flags would be removed from public spaces and street furniture and Ms Chambers was quoted as saying “it is time to bring this campaign of flag flying to an end”.

She added: “From Monday, September 29, the city council will start removing any items from public spaces and street furniture. Any left up after this date will be stored at Derby City Council.”

The council announcement attracted a great deal of criticism on social media and Ms Chambers said that although she had experienced personal abuse “for doing my job” many times, this time it had “gone way too far”.

She said: “Some of those threats have gone way too far this time and obviously being shouted at that I'm going to be raped for raping them of the flag is not acceptable in any way, shape or form.

“The police are involved. My family would like me to step away from this public role because they are worried about my safety.”