Federal politicians are being warned to seek advice from the Federal Police about upcoming election campaign events because of an alarming rise in death and sexual violence threats against MPs.

Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw told a Senate estimates hearing on Thursday that he had “sobering” news with there being 712 reports of threats against federal MPs and their electorate officers, dignitaries and other high officeholders this financial year, putting it on track to overtake last year’s record 1009 reports.