Now 17 police forces have asked for more time to investigate alleged Tory election fraud. Dyfed Powys still delays
![Tarred by association: Did David Cameron authorise the criminal overspending alleged against around 30 of his MPs? [Image: Getty.]](https://voxpoliticalonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/160330torybattlebus.jpg)
Tarred by association: Did David Cameron authorise the criminal overspending alleged against around 30 of his MPs? [Image: Getty.]
This Writer is corresponding with the Electoral Commission in the hope that the error can be corrected in time for an investigation to take place.
If not, then it is possible that at least one police officer may be accused of perverting the course of justice.
A seventeenth police force has asked for more time to investigate alleged Tory election expenses fraud.
Cumbria Police have become the latest force to ask for the extension to look into the declared spending in the run up to last year’s General Election.
Under election law, police have just one year to bring prosecutions for failing to fully declare expenses but may apply for more time.
Cumbria join West Yorkshire Police, Derbyshire Police, Greater Manchester Police, Warwickshire Police, Gloucestershire Police, Northamptonshire Police, Staffordshire Police, Cheshire Police, Kent Police, Metropolitan Police, Nottinghamshire Police, Wiltshire Police, West Midlands Police, Avon & Somerset Police, Lancashire Police in asking for the extension.
Devon and Cornwall Police have already been granted more time to look into the electoral expenses of four MPs and newly elected PCC Alison Hernandez who will be investigated by West Mercia police rather than her own force.
It is understood that 30 or more sitting Conservative MPs are involved, and some unsuccessful Conservative candidates.
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Good luck Mike
Thank you!
Have tried to share this and another of your posts, but unable to – no FB or Twitter etc
share option?
That’s very odd. I’ll look into it.
yes Mike wish you every success in what you’re doing.
I have evry faith in our police and think they will find a way to brush it under the carpet as they have done with Orgreave and Dr Kelly
Would be amazing if this turned out to be true. Even more amazing if things actually changed because of it.
The sheer scale of this electoral fraud is breath-taking. These Tory cretins should be in prison, not in government.
what is it that Chris Davies mp is supposed to have done as I’m having difficulty finding any links with the expenses/election fraud and Chris Davies or Wales in general ? maybe I’m just looking in the wrong place?
There was the matter of a four-page ‘wraparound’ advert for the Conservative Party (and by association, it’s candidate) on the local newspaper, the Brecon and Radnor Express, a week before the election. The ad cost £14,000 – more than the candidate’s entire permitted election spend. Apparently this is permitted because the Brecon and Radnor Express is sold beyond the borders of Brecon and Radnorshire. I don’t think that’s right; it’s a paper that self-associates with a single constituency and all the readers took the advert to support one candidate.
Then there was the matter of David Cameron visiting with his ‘battle bus’ on April 17. How much benefit did his visit bring to Mr Davies?
oh well that would explain it, despite living very near Brecon I don’t bother buying the B&R usually a waste of time, and I must have been too busy to notice Dave’s flying visit in April. good luck with your endeavour trying to pin anything on Davies, the prospective candidate Gary Price could be more interesting if he bothers to stand again.
I know Gary. He’s more interested in his own progression than in any political party.
A reply today from the OPCC to my email to them:
Thank you for your email raising concerns over Chris Davies MP and the Conservative party’s electoral expenses. The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner has received many emails on this subject which appear to have come as a result of a political blog by Mr Mike Sivier. There has perhaps been some confusion caused by this blog which I should provide clarity to.
The blog states that Dyfed Powys Police aren’t interested in election expenses fraud and won’t investigate these allegations, however Dyfed Powys Police are not the appropriate authority to deal with this matter.
Matters of political party finances, including spending on campaigns is regulated by the Electoral Commission. They have the powers to investigate allegations of potential breaches of the rules and impose sanctions. Clear guidance on the handling of allegations of impropriety of election expenses can be found on the following page of the Electoral Commission website:
http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/our-work/roles-and-responsibilities/our-role-as-regulator-of-political-party-finances
I appreciate recent media reports stating that police forces in England and Wales are investigating electoral expenses may have given the wrong impression, causing confusion over where the remit lies. The forces investigating these claims are doing so after being called in by the Electoral Commission. The reason for the Commission doing this was due to its concerns, it would not be able to obtain all the information it needed before the deadline for taking action passed. In order for Dyfed Powys Police to have had a role in these investigations, a request would have had to come from the Electoral Commission.
The blog suggests members of the public should complain to the Police and Crime Commissioner providing an email address to do so. I should clarify that although the Commissioner holds the Chief Constable to account and exercises a level of scrutiny over the force he is not responsible for handling complaints nor for directing the police in any operational matters, including investigations. Police complaints, as determined by legislation, should be dealt with through the Professional Standards Department of the force in question.
I apologise if you feel you have been misdirected into making contact with the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, but I would like to assure you that your views have been noted and the strength of feeling from local residents in relation to political expenses has been recorded. If concerns remain over any impropriety around election expenses I would urge you to contact the appropriate body to investigate, namely The Electoral Commission.
I hope this information has clarified matters for you and made you aware of the correct avenue through which to raise your concerns. If you do have any further queries please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Regards,
James Lewis
Swyddfa Comisiynydd Heddlu a Throseddu
Office for the Police and Crime Commissioner
Yes, that’s slightly different from the one I received. See my latest article on this subject.