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A councillor from Reform UK who campaigned on improving anti-social behaviour and public safety was found guilty of assault several months before the recent local elections. Emma Beck, 47, who worked as a door supervisor, was convicted after pushing a woman in her 60s to the ground outside a bar in St Helens, Merseyside. This conviction was not revealed during Beck’s campaign, yet she was elected to represent the Thatto Heath ward on St Helens Council.
The political party has stated that Beck has appealed against the conviction and that it will wait for the legal process to conclude before commenting further. During her campaign, Beck had pledged to stand up for local residents and tackle issues such as anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping, which impact daily life in the community. Meanwhile, the Security Industry Association (SIA), responsible for regulating licensed door supervisors, has initiated an investigation to establish the facts surrounding the case.
The SIA has reminded licence holders of their obligation to report any convictions, cautions, warnings, or charges for relevant offences within two calendar days. Failure to comply with this requirement is considered a breach of licensing conditions. Meanwhile, Reform UK secured control of St Helens Council in the same election, severely reducing the presence of Labour councillors. The St Helens Labour Party expressed serious concerns about Reform’s candidate vetting process, emphasizing the responsibility that elected officials hold in serving their communities properly.
The incident involving Beck occurred on 6 April of the previous year outside Perry’s Bar in St Helens. Merseyside Police responded to reports of the assault and Beck later participated in a voluntary interview before being charged. Although she denied the offence, Beck was found guilty at South Sefton Magistrates’ Court in January and was fined £180, with an additional order to pay £100 in compensation to the victim. It is noted that only criminal convictions involving custodial sentences longer than three months disqualify individuals from standing for local council elections.
Beck represents the third Reform UK councillor in Merseyside to face controversy since the elections. Jay Cooper, representing Bootle West, resigned from the party following the election due to past social media posts that appeared to deny aspects of the Holocaust before issuing a retraction. Another councillor, Stephen Mousdell, elected for Haydock ward, stepped down after it became public that he had posted explicit content on social media and an adult platform. Reform UK’s leader Nigel Farage addressed questions about candidate vetting on election day, admitting that with thousands of candidates, some issues can be missed but reaffirmed the party does not support individuals with problematic views. Both Emma Beck and officials from St Helens Council have been approached for comment
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