Trading standards prosecution sees bogus carer jailed for £250k fraud

The Metropolitan Police are to re-investigate alleged malpractice connected with the 2014 mayoral election in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

Independent Lutfur Rahman became elected mayor but was later unseated by an election court and Labour’s John Biggs won the subsequent by-election.

London’s deputy mayor for policing and crime Sophie Linden wrote in March to HM Inspector of Constabulary, Matt Parr, inviting him to examine the police handling of the original allegations and called for a further investigation.

A police statement said 164 allegations relating to electoral fraud and malpractice were received after the 2014 vote, which led to one person being charged with a candidate nomination offence, two being cautioned, and six people being warned as to their conduct.

“Following an internal analysis of these investigations, the MPS has now commenced a new operation to examine, and where required, investigate the criminal allegations,” the statement said.

Commander Stuart Cundy, a senior investigating officer, would lead the enquiry, “with the appropriate resources [and] a team of specialist investigators will look at the totality of alleged criminal offending and bring various investigative strands together”.

These would include a review of 27 files arising from the election court which were provided to the Director of Public Prosecutions, a review of all available evidence in relation to electoral fraud and malpractice, and of investigations and assessments into other criminal allegations relating to Tower Hamlets.

The City of London Police will conduct an independent review into the MPS investigation into criminal allegations surrounding grant funding in relation to the Tower Hamlets Communities, Localities and Culture Youth Project.

Mark Smulian