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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Police investigate Michael Mates election fraud allegation | Police investigate Michael Mates election fraud allegation |
| (5 months later) | |
| Thames Valley police are interviewing witnesses over claims that a former Tory minister misrepresented his place of residence while standing for next week's police commissioner elections in Hampshire. | Thames Valley police are interviewing witnesses over claims that a former Tory minister misrepresented his place of residence while standing for next week's police commissioner elections in Hampshire. |
| The former Northern Ireland minister, Michael Mates, has denied the allegation of fraud made by a rival candidate in the race for the £85,000 a year position, but police are expected to interview witnesses before voters go to the polls on 15 November. | The former Northern Ireland minister, Michael Mates, has denied the allegation of fraud made by a rival candidate in the race for the £85,000 a year position, but police are expected to interview witnesses before voters go to the polls on 15 November. |
| Under the police and crime commissioner election rules, candidates must be registered to vote for local government elections within the area they wish to stand in "both at the time of [their] nomination and on polling day". | Under the police and crime commissioner election rules, candidates must be registered to vote for local government elections within the area they wish to stand in "both at the time of [their] nomination and on polling day". |
| Former solicitor Don Jerrard, who is standing as the Justice and Anti-Corruption party representative, said Mates, East Hampshire MP for 36 years until 2010, had listed a rental property in Winchester as his residence. | Former solicitor Don Jerrard, who is standing as the Justice and Anti-Corruption party representative, said Mates, East Hampshire MP for 36 years until 2010, had listed a rental property in Winchester as his residence. |
| Jerrard said that that he had passed the allegations of fraud to the chief constable of Hampshire believing that Mates was until recently listed on the electoral role in neighbouring West Sussex, where he has lived with his wife for 15 years. | Jerrard said that that he had passed the allegations of fraud to the chief constable of Hampshire believing that Mates was until recently listed on the electoral role in neighbouring West Sussex, where he has lived with his wife for 15 years. |
| The complaint was made to Hampshire police, but the investigation is being handled by Thames Valley police to avoid any conflict of interest with the force that the candidates are hoping to become commissioner for. | The complaint was made to Hampshire police, but the investigation is being handled by Thames Valley police to avoid any conflict of interest with the force that the candidates are hoping to become commissioner for. |
| In September Mates faced calls from his own local party association to step down as a commissioner candidate after previous allegations of impropriety over a central London property deal funded through MP's expenses. | In September Mates faced calls from his own local party association to step down as a commissioner candidate after previous allegations of impropriety over a central London property deal funded through MP's expenses. |
| Speaking to BBC Radio Solent on Friday Mates said that he was aware of the law and had sought advice from his agent before the selection process had even begun about renting the flat to provide as a residential address. | Speaking to BBC Radio Solent on Friday Mates said that he was aware of the law and had sought advice from his agent before the selection process had even begun about renting the flat to provide as a residential address. |
| "I lived outside of Hampshire 500 yards away for the last 15 years," he said. "I could have applied to Sussex but my heart is in Hampshire, my service is in Hampshire." | "I lived outside of Hampshire 500 yards away for the last 15 years," he said. "I could have applied to Sussex but my heart is in Hampshire, my service is in Hampshire." |
| "The electoral registration office in Winchester is happy … and I've got my certificate. So is the returning officer in Southampton." | "The electoral registration office in Winchester is happy … and I've got my certificate. So is the returning officer in Southampton." |
| "I've been a local person in Hampshire of the last 38 years," he added. | "I've been a local person in Hampshire of the last 38 years," he added. |
| A Thames Valley police spokesman said: "We can confirm that on Friday 2 November Hampshire police referred an allegation of fraud to Thames Valley police ahead of the election for the police and crime commissioner in Hampshire and Isle of Wight. Thames Valley police are currently investigating the allegation and it would be inappropriate to comment further." | A Thames Valley police spokesman said: "We can confirm that on Friday 2 November Hampshire police referred an allegation of fraud to Thames Valley police ahead of the election for the police and crime commissioner in Hampshire and Isle of Wight. Thames Valley police are currently investigating the allegation and it would be inappropriate to comment further." |
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