The Met Police are under investigation. Pic; kenjonbro (Flickr)
The official police watchdog will investigate the Metropolitan Police’s handling of fraud and malpractice allegations during the 2014 Tower Hamlets mayoral election.
The deputy mayor for policing has called for Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) to further investigate the Met Police’s inquiry into the 2014 election, following a London Assembly committee’s decision earlier this month to condemn the Met’s investigation.
The deputy mayor for policing Sophie Linden wrote a letter to HMIC yesterday (March 21) explaining her position and asking for an inquiry into the Met’s investigation to begin.
In the letter, seen by the Evening Standard, Linden wrote, “It is right, particularly in cases such as these, that there is no political pressure whatsoever applied to the police and that they should be able to carry out their investigations, which are on going, without fear or favour. That said, I am keen to ensure the investigations can command the trust and confidence of Londoners and particularly residents of Tower Hamlets, who are keen to see the integrity of the democratic process robustly secured.”
Linden continued: “The public need to have the highest level of confidence that any and all criminal prosecutions have been considered and pursued.”
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police told Eastlondonlines: ‘The MPS will work closely with any HMIC inspection, alongside our own current work.’
John Biggs, the Mayor of Tower Hamlets, told Eastlondonlines:“I welcome the Deputy Mayor’s decision. Protecting the security and integrity of our democracy is vitally important. Trying to steal an election is a serious crime and local people are rightly deeply frustrated that despite Lutfur Rahman and his colleagues being found guilty by the Election Court, the police have failed to bring criminal charges against anyone involved.”
Biggs continued “I hope that HMIC’s review will help to reassure the public that this will not be able to happen again.”
