Reports of election fraud in Blackburn with Darwen

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 15^th 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

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Alan,

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

Many Thanks,

Paul.

Paul Walker

Lancashire Constabulary

Information Assurance Unit

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