PETITIONOpenPetition · petition.parliament.uk
Prevent people with serious criminal convictions from becoming local councillors
We call on the Government to prohibit people convicted of serious criminal offences from standing for election as local councillors.
Last fetched 03 May 2026 · petition.parliament.uk
Signatures
191
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 191/10,000
Debate threshold (100,000) · 191/100,000
Background
Local councillors hold positions of trust and influence over public safety, services, and public money. Allowing individuals convicted of serious offences, including violence, sexual crimes, fraud, or corruption, to stand for election undermines confidence in local democracy. The law should be changed to impose a lifetime disqualification for such offences to protect integrity in public office.