Dear Sirs,

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.

I would be very grateful if you could confirm receipt of this
request.

Yours faithfully, Alan Smithee

Mr Smithee

RE: Freedom of Information Application - Ref: 1246/08

I write in connection with you request for information dated received by
Lancashire Constabulary on the 15th July 2008. I note you seek access to
the following information:

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 will now be considered in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 2000, known hereafter as 'the Act'. You should receive a
response within the statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by
the Act, subject to the information not being exempt or containing a
reference to a third party. In some circumstances Lancashire
Constabulary may be unable to achieve this deadline. If this is likely
you will be informed and given a revised time-scale at the earliest
opportunity.

There may be a fee payable for the retrieval, collation and provision of
the information you request. If this is the case you will be informed
and the 20 working day timescale will be suspended until we receive
payment from you. If you choose not to make payment then your request
will remain unanswered.

Some requests may also require either full or partial transference to
another public authority in order to answer you query in the fullest
possible way. Again, you will be informed if this is the case.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in
Lancashire Constabulary.

Yours sincerely,

Paul.

Paul Walker

Information Assurance Unit

show quoted sections

Alan,

Please find attached our response to your request received on the 15th
July 2008.

Many Thanks,

Paul.

Paul Walker

Lancashire Constabulary

Information Assurance Unit

show quoted sections