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'Reports of election fraud in Blackburn with Darwen'.
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RESOURCES DIRECTORATE
Corporate Support and Information Services - Data Protection
Police Headquarters, Saunders Lane, Hutton, Preston PR4 5SB
Tel: 01772 413327 Fax: 01772 412123 Email: [Lancashire Constabulary request email]
Mr Alan Smithee
via WhatDoTheyKnow.com
Dear Mr Smithee
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION APPLICATION REFERENCE NO: 1246/08
Thank you for your request for information received by Lancashire Constabulary on the 15th July 2008, which was as follows:-
I am writing to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I am interested in complaints/reports received from local government and the public by Lancashire Constabulary in relation to the Blackburn with Darwen local council elections in May 2008.
The information I require is the number of complaints, broken down by ward and type of complaint. This should include, but not necessarily be limited to, complaints relating to alleged electoral fraud, handling of postal ballots, intimidation, impersonation etc. For an individual ward this might be recorded as, for example, "Ward X - handling of postal votes (3), intimidation (1)". These figures should cover the period of six weeks in the run up to the election on 3 May. It does not matter whether these were fully investigated/reviewed for prosecution, only whether an allegation was made.
I would also like to know how many complaints were referred to the police by the council/returning officer, rather than by the general public, in the same period. Again, I would like these figures broken down by ward.
Your request has been considered and the information you are seeking can be found below:-
Complaints received |
|
Audley |
Allegation of Election material (1), Allegation of Postal vote allegation (1) |
Bastwell |
Allegation of Postal Vote Interference (1), Allegation of Proxy Vote issues (1), Allegation of Intimidation of voters by Party members (2), Allegation of Election Offence (1) |
Corporation |
Allegation of Postal Vote Interference (1) |
Higher Croft |
Allegation of Elector personation (1) |
Queens Park |
Allegation of Conduct (1) |
Roe Lee |
Allegation of Election material (1) |
Shear Brow |
Allegation of Elector personation (2), Allegation of Postal Votes issues (2), Allegation of Treating (1) |
Sunnyhurst |
Allegation of Tampering with postal votes (1), Allegation of Conduct (1) |
In addition to this, please find a table below detailing the number of complaints which the council referred to the police. It should be noted that the enquiries listed above which were not referred to the police were thoroughly investigated by the council to ensure that no further action was necessary.
Police Referral |
|
Audley |
1 |
Bastwell |
4 |
Corporation |
1 |
Higher Croft |
1 |
Queens Park |
1 |
Shear Brow |
2 |
Sunnyhurst |
1 |
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in Lancashire Constabulary.
Yours sincerely
Paul Walker
Freedom of Information Disclosure Officer
You have the right to request a re-examination of your case under Lancashire Constabulary's review procedure. If you decide to
request such a review and having followed the Constabulary's full process you are still dissatisfied, then you have
the right to direct your comments to the Information Commissioner who will give it consideration.