Dorset Police and Poole BC ask election candidates to sign declaration over postal voting

Dorset Police and Poole Borough Council have asked candidates in next week’s general election to sign a voluntary declaration aimed at preventing electoral fraud, the BBC has reported.

Assistant Chief Constable Mike Glanville and Poole’s returning officer Paul Morris said the demand for postal voting increases the risk of fraud.

Letters were sent to candidates and their agents in the constituencies of Poole, and Mid Dorset and North Poole.

The voluntary declaration asks candidates to adhere to the Electoral Commission’s postal voting code of conduct.

According to the BBC, the declaration states: “We wish to make it absolutely clear that any abuse of the arrangements for postal voting is very likely to constitute an offence under the Representation of the People Act 1983 and will not be tolerated.

“The Dorset Police Authority and the Crown Prosecution Service will consider any evidence of unlawful conduct and, if necessary, prosecutions will be brought against offenders. Of those cases that have come to court in recent years, most have resulted in the offenders being given significant prison sentences.”