Reply #33: UK: Police called in to investigate new electoral fraud claims [View All]

[EFerrari]

Police called in to investigate new electoral fraud claims

Hugh Muir and Diane Taylor
Thursday April 27, 2006
The Guardian

Scotland Yard is investigating new claims of electoral fraud in seven London boroughs, including Tower Hamlets, the area at the centre of last year's postal voting scandal, the Guardian has learned.

Ahead of next week's local elections, Special Branch officers are to examine claims from east London that almost 5,000 votes have been registered for what is expected to be a tight and bitter contest in Tower Hamlets between Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Respect party.

But officers are also being sucked in to political dogfights in other areas. The Metropolitan police yesterday confirmed it is working with the Crown Prosecution Service and the Electoral Commission on electoral fraud allegations across the capital. Inquiries are focused on Harrow, Kensington and Chelsea, Merton, Southwark, Hounslow and Barnet.

Scotland Yard confirmed that its Special Operations Command is involved. A spokesman said the force could not elaborate on the nature of the alleged frauds. But the Guardian has learned that some of the claims involve new postal vote irregularities while others relate to alleged offences involving election literature.

http://society.guardian.co.uk/localgovt/story/0,,1762374,00.html?gusrc=rss