Yahoo News Police launch fresh investigation into electoral fraud allegations in Tower Hamlets
Scotland Yard has launched a fresh investigation into allegations of electoral fraud and malpractice in Tower Hamlets.
Lutfur Rahman, the disgraced former mayor of the east London borough, was forced to step down after he was found guilty of a litany of corrupt and illegal practises.
Despite this, Mr Rahman has faced no criminal prosecution.
Scotland Yard said it recognises "concerns have been raised" about the previous police investigations into criminal allegations of electoral fraud in relation to the borough’s 2014 Mayoral Election.
It has also asked the City of London Police to launch an independent review into its investigation into criminal allegations surrounding grant funding in relation to the Tower Hamlets Communities, Localities and Culture Youth Project.
Police received 164 complaints of election malpractice in Tower Hamlets in and around the election in May 2014.
This led to two people being cautioned and a person being charged with a candidate nomination offence.
Another six people received verbal or written warnings about their conduct.
Police said they have carried out an internal analysis of these investigations and have launched "a new operation to examine, and where required, investigate the criminal allegations".
It comes after a London Assembly committee earlier this year said police made "major failings" when investigating allegations of electoral fraud and malpractice in the election.
Steve O'Connell, chairman of the London Assembly's Police and Crime Committee, said there was "widespread concern" that the force had not brought charges.
He also said a bundle of 27 files sent to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) was not reviewed by police, and that there were missed opportunities to gather witness statements.
Scotland Yard said a team of specialist investigators will review the files arising from the Election Court which were sent to the DPP.
They want to see whether those files contain anything that changes the previous advice from the Crown Prosecution Service, changes the decisions made by the police or needs further investigation.
The investigation team will also review evidence regarding electoral fraud and malpractice and any new investigations into criminal offences.
Anti-fraud campaigner Andy Erlam said: "I welcome the fresh investigation. There can be no cover-up. Industrial-scale financial fraud at the town hall is now in the spotlight."
