The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex has offered safety advice to Maldon councillors following the death of Conservative MP Sir David Amess.

During a full town council meeting on Monday evening (25 October), Roger Hirst responded to security concerns raised by councillors in the wake of the murder of the Southend West MP, who was stabbed to death as he met constituents at a surgery in Leigh-on-Sea earlier this month.

Councillor Stephen Nunn said: "We're still trying to come to terms with the terrible incident concerning the murder of Sir David Amess.

"It makes you stop in your tracks and reflect on your role as a public servant."

He asked Mr Hirst for detail on the "steps the police will be taking to advise public servants and officers on their wellbeing".

Mr Hirst said that a review of MPs' security currently taking place will "probably change some of the advice in Operation Bridger" - the nationwide police protection security programme in the UK for MPs.

He said that he does not know "whether town and parish councils have been reached out to just yet", but advised members to contact Steve Scott-Haynes, the chief inspector of Essex Police.

Mr Hirst added: "If you're holding a surgery, you shouldn't be publicising it broadly on social media."

He advised members to "keep a register on people who have been difficult in the past".

The discussion also focussed on abuse received by councillors on social media.

Councillor Nunn said: "It's not a police issue but sometimes we could do with the support of the police."

Mr Hirst responded: "Harm is a cumulative thing - keep a record of things that come in.

"A consistent stream of invective harassment and invective trolling is something you can raise with the police and we can investigate."

Councillor Jane Fleming, who also sits on Essex County Council, told members that they can remove home addresses from the profile pages on the council website.