Election Watchdog To Probe Tower Hamlets Count Delays.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/election-watchdog-to-probe-tower-hamlets-count-delays-as-last-results-finally-announced-9442262.html

It's much more than 'count delays' that need probing.

/// Mr Rahman swept to power in 2010 and formed a cabinet made up entirely of Bangladeshi Muslims. ///

/// “But the intimidation at polling stations across this borough was appalling. There were four Bangladeshi men outside my polling station, all from Tower Hamlets First, and as you walked in there 11 people inside the polling station and they would pounce on you with a fake polling card in your face, calling on you to vote for Mr Rahman.” ///

What is happening in Tower Hamlets could happen anywhere in the country, this should be investigated fully and the appropriate action taken, but don't hold your breath, it will most likely all be swept under the carpet.

[emmie]

with any luck it won't be, Eric Pickles had been looking into this a few weeks back, electioneering rackets, one hope he hasn't forgotten the matter already.

[Brenden]

I would not trust them as far as I could throw them. They will obtain their way by foul means or fair.

[emmie]

dodgy dealing not unheard in our council, TH elections should be thoroughly investigated, if no problems found then leave well alone, however watching a number of programmes on the Mayor leaves one in some doubt as to his all inclusive political nature, i think he prefers Bengali people, certainly in his political life than others.

[Peter Pedant]

Not the first controversial election apparemtly

[emmie]

probably not.

[Gromit]

There was a police officer at every polling station.

Why did they do nothing? Why did they make no arrests? Why did they not caution anyone? Why did they not tell the returning officer?

The losing candidates that allegedly saw these things, why did they not alert the police, report the matter to the police?

There were 100 allegations of of irregularities at the election in 2012 and not one was proved.

Perhaps the police were in on the conspiracy. Or more likely, there was no conspiracy, just sour grapes by bad losers.

[berniecuddles]

probably hear of a stoning tomorrow!

[emmie]

actually its on the news right now, some of the voters saying they felt intimidated on voting,

[Gromit]

If people were intimidated, why did they not inform the police officer or make a complaint to the election staff?

Why have they waited a week before saying anything? And not to the police, but journalists?

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

/// If people were intimidated, why did they not inform the police officer or make a complaint to the election staff? ///

*** The Metropolitan Police Service confirmed there had been a “small number of reports of aggressive campaigning” but that “no arrests had been made”. ***

*** But the Electoral Commission said that “clearly there have been issues at Tower Hamlets counts” and that an investigation would take place, adding that “everyone should be able to vote free from intimidation”. ***

Seems like another case of the police walking on broken glass in case they are classed as racist.

[Zeuhl]

/Seems like another case of the police walking on broken glass in case they are classed as racist./

A rather silly and mischievous assumption based on very little hard fact.

// a “small number of reports/// is a meaningless phrase

in Policing terms it merely prompts enquiries and investigation

obviously, there won't be any arrests if those enquiries find no actual complaints or evidence of wrong doing

Tittle Tattle aog

Tittle Tattle

[Peter Pedant]

No Z not quite tittle tattle....

we know ( not necessarily thro AOG ) that there was apolice man at every polling station at TH

How many times have you been to apolling station when the Police were there ?
Is it as many as myself - none?

Clearly trouble was anticipated, - there was election propaganda in the election 'chamber' which there shouldnt have been, and toomany people present. These are all subject to regulation/laws and the people pointing it out have a legitimate expectation that those who are running the election will actually er run it.

[Zeuhl]

Hi PP

I have seen Police Officers at Polling Stations. Not in recent years. Perhaps it was more common practice in London than it is in Sussex-by-the-Sea.

If there were Officers there and they saw no reason to question or arrest anyone then there are only three possible explanations

1. the officers were intimidated in some way
2. the officers were negligent
3. the officers saw nothing untoward

Until the enquiries are completed I see no reason to assume option 1.

My point is still that 'a small number of reports' is tittle tattle.

The police could receive 'a small number of reports' that an elderly man is performing lewd acts with a goat in aog's back garden - it doesn't mean that their enquiries will conclude anything more than malicious or hallucinating neighbours.

[Peter Pedant]

Z - no you are being disingenuous

I somehow don't think that the police officers were posted there because they themselves may be intimidated,

but to uphold the law

Now the difficulty is, if people are complaining after the fact,
then it wasnt.... [ the law wasnt being upheld

Do the police stand around when they should be maintaining laura norder ?
well look at Steven Lawrence, I'm afraid where the Police do nothing is in Act 1 Sc 1. ( of a long tragedy )

[douglas9401]

You can't have a thriving multi-cultural society without all the little traditions that come with it, especially when those arriving from exotic lands live on top of each other in the 14th century.