Met Police investigating 65 allegations of voting corruption in London ahead of local elections
Forty of the claims centre on the borough of Tower Hamlets, which has been the focus of electoral fraud and wrongdoing in the past
SCOTLAND Yard is investigating 65 allegations of voting corruption in London ahead of Thursday’s local elections.
Forty of the claims centre on the borough of Tower Hamlets, which has been the focus of electoral fraud and wrongdoing in the past.
One allegation is understood to involve a candidate with links to the borough’s disgraced former mayor, Lutfur Rahman.
He was banned from holding office for five years in 2015 after being found to have engaged in “corrupt and illegal” practices while in power.
Sources allege the candidate has persuaded voters to hand over blank postal vote forms, in breach of rules.
One source told The Sun: “The allegations are deeply concerning. The Met has had a great deal of criticism for failing to act when it comes to electoral fraud in London.
“It’s vital Operation Loscoe produces results.”
Loscoe is the codename for the electoral fraud probe run by the Met’s specialist crime and operations unit.
Cops with body cameras will be at polling stations on Thursday to police any attempts at voter intimidation.