Police have warned a robust stance to fraud or malpractice will be taken at the local elections.

Electoral fraud experts from the police, local authorities, Crown Prosecution Service and the Electoral Commission have been working together for months to ensure the elections are run fairly and safely.

A referendum is also taking place on Thursday, May 5, which gives people chance to vote on a possible change in the voting system to elect MPs.

West Yorkshire Assistant Chief Constable Jawaid Akhtar said: “Any allegations of electoral fraud will be treated extremely seriously. We are working closely with returning officers to share information and to identify any suspicious activity.

“A suggestion that electoral fraud might be taking place has the potential to undermine people’s faith in the voting system.

“Any allegation of an attempt to cheat the system will be thoroughly investigated and appropriate action taken.

“I want anyone who is aware of any suspicious activity, or who feels someone is attempting to unfairly influence them, to contact their local returning officer.”

Returning officers may decide to refer some matters to the police for further investigation.

Five Conservative Party supporters in Bradford, including former councillors Reis Khan and Jamshed Khan, were jailed last September for attempting to rig the voting system in the run- up to the 2005 General Election.

They conspired in a plot to use fraudulent postal votes to get Haroon Rashid elected to the marginal Bradford West seat.

Guidance to returning officers states that anyone wanting to make an allegation of electoral fraud should have evidence and be willing to make a statement to police.

Bradford Council chief executive Tony Reeves, who is also the Returning Officer, said: “We always deal robustly with any election issues, including any allegations of electoral fraud, to support democracy in fair and transparent elections so that the public can have full confidence in their outcome.”

  • Read the full story in Tuesday's T&A