Sutton and Croydon MPs have revealed they have increased security at home and their constituency offices following the murder of Labour politician Jo Cox.

Carshalton and Wallington MP, Tom Brake, and Croydon Central MP, Gavin Barwell, admitted having they have taken steps to improve their safety following threats made in person or via social media.

The politicians made the disclosure after a specialist team set up to investigate crimes against MPs revealed it had received more than 50 complaints following Mrs Cox’s death, which happened one week before last year’s EU referendum.Your Local Guardian:

Murdered Labour MP Jo Cox (Pic: PA / Newswire)

The Batley and Spen MP was shot and stabbed multiple times by terrorist Thomas Mair in Birstall, West Yorkshire, where she was due to hold a constituency surgery on June 16.

Mair, who held far-right nationalist views, was given a whole-life sentence for murder following a seven-day trial at the Old Bailey, latter the same year.

After the MP was killed the Metropolitan Police’s Parliamentary Liaison and Investigation team received 33 reports of malicious communications, which can include Twitter trolling.

It also received 13 reports of theft, three reports of harassment and four allegations of criminal damage.

Read more: Man 'armed with knife' arrested after 'threatening to kill' Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell in constituency office

Mr Barwell, who was threatened in his Shirley constituency office by a man armed with a knife, said police had offered him guidance following the incident in June, last year.

He said: “The police gave us some advice in how to make my office and home safer following what happened last year, which I have taken, but in terms of how I do the job it hasn’t had a major effect. Since then I haven’t been the target of any attacks other than people being rude to me on Twitter.“

The Conservative MP acknowledged there had been an upsurge in racist attacks following the EU referendum, but said attacks against politicians had not increased significantly.

“There clearly has been an increase in racist behaviour, but in regards to how MPs are treated there isn’t much that is different. It is rare, but MPs have been targeted before what happened in June, last year.”

Read more: Sutton MPs Tom Brake and Paul Scully join tributes after Jo Cox dies in West Yorkshire shooting

Mr Brake, however, revealed he had been sent a threatening message following last year’s referendum and believed social media companies could do more to combat the issue of internet trolls.

He said: “I have received a message where I was told to think carefully about how I vote on Brexit and how that was aimed against me and my family. I took that to be a threat.

“There is clearly much more that Facebook and Twitter can do to address the problem. There are many posts that should be taken down quickly and when you think about how much money these companies make they should be able to bring in some more people to deal with it.”

The MP added following Jo Cox’s murder he no longer held open surgeries and instead asked constituents to submit information about themselves before visiting him.

Mr Brake said: “When I first started as an MP I hold a surgery by myself where people could come as they wanted, but I don’t do that anymore.

“I now get people to give me their details and their reason for wanting to come to the surgery. It isn’t a great deal, but it does add a bit more security.

“I have also opted to have further security measures put in place at my home. It’s nothing Jason Bourne-like, but makes sure that my alarms, locks and such are fully up-to-date.”