Thames Valley Police is appealing for information following a series of shocking reports of postal vote fraud in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.
The force has today issued the following statement:
Since Thursday 15 April, officers have received multiple reports of individuals going door-to-door in Totteridge encouraging people to vote by post and collecting postal ballots.
An investigation into these reports is being carried out.
Investigating officer, Detective Constable Katie Taylor, of the Economic Crime Unit, said: “It is paramount that we protect the integrity of the vote and we are taking these reports extremely seriously.
“I am appealing for any witnesses to this, or anyone who has any information, to please come forward.
“Further, if you believe this has happened to you, please report this to us.
“Anyone with information can contact Thames Valley Police by calling 101 or you can make a report online, quoting reference 4321077351.
“I’d also like to remind the public that you should never hand over your postal ballots to anyone. The ballot is for your vote and it is illegal for anyone to use your ballot for their vote.”
The area of Wycombe has a recent history of ‘crooked’ politics and electoral fraud, with Labour candidate Israr Rashid being charged with postal vote fraud last year, along with conspiracy to defraud the electoral services manager at Wycombe District Council.
In a bizarre incident that may have some relation to the reports of postal vote fraud in last week’s local elections, on Saturday, a large group of Asian men were ejected by police and campaign officials after attempting to storm the count room in Wycombe’s leisure centre – allegedly to attack independent candidates who had won seats.
“The independent candidates won fair and square, and there’s about twenty of them who came in to attack them” one eyewitness claimed.
VoteWatch will provide an update as soon as one becomes available.
