PEOPLE in Keynsham and Saltford face a challenge with Parliamentary representation after the arrest of their MP on suspicion of rape and child sex offences.
Police arrested Dan Norris on Friday April 4 on suspicion of sexual offences against a girl, rape, child abduction, and misconduct in a public office.
Mr Norris was later banned from entering Parliament, as well as the offices of the West of England Combined Authority, in his role as Metro Mayor.
Avon and Somerset Police said most of the offences are alleged to have occurred in the 2000s but it was also investigating an alleged offence of rape in the 2020s. He has been released on conditional bail.
He was immediately suspended from the Labour Party after his arrest but Mr Norris remains MP for North East Somerset and Hanham, now officially as an independent.
The constituency, which came into being at last year’s general election, follows similar boundaries to the Wansdyke constituency that Mr Norris represented from 1997 until 2010, when he was unseated by Conservative Jacob Rees-Mogg. He won his seat back at last year’s general election.
As well as their role in Parliament, MPs and their teams in their constituency office play a key role providing assistance to constituents who reach out to their MP for help. This will continue.
A spokesperson from the constituency office team said: “The office is open as usual and staff are continuing to work on casework.”
The spokesperson described themself to the Local Democracy Reporting Service as “from the North East Somerset & Hanham MP’s office,” avoiding mentioning Mr Norris by name.
New rules in Parliament mean that a risk assessment is carried out when an MP is arrested on suspicion of a violent or sexual offence, which can lead to the Member being banned from the Parliamentary estate.
A House of Commons spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service on Tuesday April 8: “We do not comment on individual cases.
“The House has an established process, under Standing Order 164, to consider sanctions on Members who have been arrested on suspicion of violent or sexual offences. The details of that process remain confidential in line with the Standing Orders.”
As well as being an MP, Mr Norris was leader of the West of England Combined Authority as Metro Mayor until the mayoral elections on May 1.
Following his arrest, he was banned from WECA’s offices, with his key fob deactivated, and the authority’s staff were offered specialist trauma support.
Under Labour Party policy about second jobs, Mr Norris was already not standing form re-election as Metro Mayor.
Avon and Somerset Police said on Saturday April 5: “In December 2024, we received a referral from another police force relating to alleged non-recent child sex offences having been committed against a girl.
“Most of the offences are alleged to have occurred in the 2000s, but we’re also investigating an alleged offence of rape from the 2020s.
“An investigation, led by officers within Operation Bluestone, our dedicated rape and serious sexual assault investigation team, remains ongoing and at an early stage.
“The victim is being supported and given access to any specialist help or support she needs.
“A man, aged in his sixties, was arrested on Friday (April 4) on suspicion of sexual offences against a girl (under the Sexual Offences Act 1956), rape (under the Sexual Offences Act 2003), child abduction and misconduct in a public office. He’s been released on conditional bail for enquiries to continue.
“This is an active and sensitive investigation, so we’d respectfully ask people not to speculate on the circumstances so our enquiries can continue unhindered.”
John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporting Service
What MP’s arrest means for constituents
