Officers to guard polling stations to stop `voter intimidation`

Extra officers will throw a “sterile” cordon around dozens of polling stations in a London district notorious for claims of electoral fraud.

Exclusion zones, which will extend up to 30 metres, will be set up outside almost all of Tower Hamlet’s 75 polling centres to stop potential voter intimidation.

A policing plan has been put in place so that each venue can have an officer stationed outside on Thursday (June 8).

The extra security aims to stop campaigners trying to influence voters in the Bethnal Green and Bow and Poplar and Limehouse seats.

A Poplar and Limehouse candidate said the police presence was justified as you “can’t put a price on democracy”.

The candidate added: “There’s different ways to campaign on polling day and in certain communities the culture is to get a number of supporters outside polling stations to demonstrate the support that they have.

“For most of us, that’s intimidating and should be discouraged. The police are there to make sure the area around the polling station is completely sterile.”

Since 2012, half of the 224 allegations of electoral fraud in London have related to Tower Hamlets.

In April, the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) launched a new investigation into allegations of electoral fraud and malpractice in the May 2014 Tower Hamlets mayoral election “to examine, and where required, investigate the criminal allegations” following an internal analysis of their inquiries.

Former mayor Lutfur Rahman stepped down after an Election Court found him guilty of corrupt and illegal practices but has faced no criminal prosecution.

The MPS, accused of “major failings” after it received 164 complaints of election malpractice during the May 2014 local election, said it recognised “concerns have been raised” about the previous police inquiry.

The MPS has also asked the City of London Police to carry out an independent review into its investigation into allegations surrounding grant funding in relation to the Tower Hamlets Communities, Localities and Culture Youth Project.

Steve O`Connell, chairman of the London Assembly`s Police and Crime Committee, previously said there was “widespread concern” the MPS had not brought charges against Mr Rahman, missed files of evidence and missed opportunities to gather witness statements.

Earlier, in March, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) was asked to carry out an inspection into the force by London`s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Sophie Linden.

In a letter to HMIC, Ms Linden highlighted concerns raised about “the conduct of the police investigation into these, and connected, matters”.

She said while “no political pressure” must be applied to the police during investigations, the force`s inquires should “command the trust and confidence of Londoners and particularly residents of Tower Hamlets” in seeing the “integrity of the democratic process robustly secured”.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police Service told Police Professional this week the force has been working closely with the Electoral Commission and all local authorities across London.

The MPS statement added: “It is vital to ensure the integrity of the democratic process, so in the run up to the election, and on the day itself, there will be a policing plan in place in Tower Hamlets.

“This will include additional officers on duty based at polling stations.”

A Tower Hamlets Council spokesperson said: “We have put in place tough and secure measures to combat fraud, and our response to allegations of fraud has been independently recognised as both prompt and robust.”