Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council’s Cabinet considered a recommendation on 10 November 2026 to adopt a formal Warning Flags Register policy, replacing an informal system previously known as the Potentially Violent Persons Register.
Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council’s Cabinet considered a recommendation on 10 November 2026 to adopt a new Warning Flags Register (WFR) policy, formalising arrangements for recording individuals whose behaviour presents a potential risk to staff and councillors carrying out council duties.
Background to the policy change
Operational measures to manage risks from violent or threatening behaviour had been in place for some years under the previous name of the Potentially Violent Persons Register. When the IT system used for recording became unsupported and required replacement, officers took the opportunity to review the name, operational approach and to propose a formal policy.
The new policy establishes a corporate framework for recording, reviewing and managing information relating to individuals whose behaviour presents a potential risk to staff safety. It sets out criteria for adding and reviewing records, governance and approval arrangements, data retention requirements, staff responsibilities, and data protection and confidentiality requirements. The policy is supported by detailed staff guidance and a Data Protection Impact Assessment.
Amendments agreed before referral to Cabinet
The General Purposes Committee, which considered the matter on 7 October 2026 before referring it to Cabinet, was advised that additional wording would be included in the staff guidance to require every entry to identify the relevant control measure. Further amendments were also to be made to strengthen safeguarding arrangements relating to children and adults at risk of harm, including a requirement to confirm that safeguarding considerations had been addressed before an entry was submitted.
The General Purposes Committee unanimously recommended adoption of the policy, with Councillor McDermott proposing and Councillor Banks seconding the motion.
Member safety arrangements still to be developed
Members of the General Purposes Committee emphasised that arrangements for councillor involvement should recognise both the need to provide relevant safety information to members and the possibility that members could be the first to become aware of behaviour or circumstances requiring reporting to officers. The committee noted that detailed arrangements for member involvement would be developed separately.
The recommendation to Cabinet included delegating authority to the Director of Planning, Housing and Regulatory Services, in consultation with the Chair of the General Purposes Committee, to agree appropriate and legally compliant arrangements for sharing relevant Warning Flags Register information with members where necessary and proportionate to support their safety.
The council had not published the minutes of the meeting at the time of writing, so Cabinet’s decision is not yet on the public record.