Police and Peterborough City Council join forces to prevent electoral malpractice ahead of general election

Voters in Peterborough have been reassured that council staff and police are working together to reduce the risk of electoral misconduct in the run-up to the general election.

Peterborough City Council staff will be carrying out a rigorous series of checks and processes that have been refined over many years to prevent, detect and prosecute electoral offences.

The council’s returning officer and its Electoral Services team will be cross checking the signature and date of birth of every postal vote received.

They will also be closely monitoring new applications to join the electoral register and verifying information provided.

Any postal votes that cause concern will be scrutinised and kept separate to other postal votes.

If fraud is suspected, they are passed to the police for investigation.

In addition, the council is ensuring requirements set out in new legislation around postal vote returns are met.

Polling station staff are trained on electoral legislation and risks in their polling stations and are made aware of issues such as family voting, where family members try and coerce a relative into voting in a certain way, and that photography is not permitted in polling stations.

Police chiefs have also set up a dedicated team to work jointly with the council to investigate allegations of electoral malpractice.

Police will investigate any reports of corrupt activity.

They say that all allegations will be treated seriously and prosecutions will be brought if evidence of wrongdoing is uncovered.

There will also be an increased police presence in the city on polling day.

Matt Gladstone, Acting Returning Officer for Peterborough City Council, said: “People are entitled to use their vote in elections freely without fear or intimidation.

"That is why we work closely with the police for every election that we hold and go above and beyond our legal responsibility to ensure that the process is run as fairly as possible.

"Legislation dictates that we have to cross check the signature and date of birth of everyone who submits a postal vote.

"We go one step beyond to scrutinise the postal vote process and scrutinise bundles of postal votes returned.

"Postal votes returned are opened, scanned and monitored to identify unusual patterns.

"Any concerns are referred to the police for investigation.

Detective Chief Inspector Tom Rowe, of Cambridgeshire Constabulary, said: "We are working closely with the city council to ensure the elections in Peterborough run smoothly and in an honest and transparent manner.

"Our role is to police without fear or favour, and we will carefully balance the need for freedom of speech and expression, with the need to consider if actions do amount to criminal and threatening behaviour.

"People can be rest assured that any suspected corrupt practices will be treated very seriously and action will be taken if any offences come to light.

"The electorate must have complete confidence in the integrity of the system and our operation will seek to ensure that's the case."

Anyone who is concerned that they are being asked to do something which could be illegal, or are being forced to vote in a certain way, should call the election fraud hotline on 01733 452282, Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or the police on 101.