This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/aug/25/police-commissioners-electoral-fraud-claims

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Police commissioners investigated over electoral fraud claims Police commissioners investigated over electoral fraud claims
(about 5 hours later)
Two recently elected police and crime commissioners are being questioned by the Independent Police Complaints Commission after allegedly lying about where they were living when they were elected.Two recently elected police and crime commissioners are being questioned by the Independent Police Complaints Commission after allegedly lying about where they were living when they were elected.
The police watchdog confirmed it had begun investigations into North Wales PCC Winston Roddick and Hampshire PCC Simon Hayes following "referrals". The police watchdog confirmed it had begun investigations into north Wales PCC Winston Roddick and Hampshire counterpart Simon Hayes following "referrals".
The pair are being investigated for electoral fraud after it was alleged that both lived outside the police force areas they were elected to represent on the day they were elected, according to the Mail on Sunday. If they are found guilty new by-elections may have to be held. The pair are being investigated for electoral fraud after it was alleged that both lived outside the police force areas they were elected to represent on the day they were elected, according to the Mail on Sunday. If they are found guilty new byelections may have to be held.
Police and crime commissioners – which have the power to set force budgets and strategies, as well to hire and fire chief constables – replaced existing police authorities in 41 force areas across England and Wales in November. Police and crime commissioners, who have the power to set force budgets and strategies, and hire and fire chief constables, replaced existing police authorities in 41 force areas across England and Wales in November.
Roddick is accused of listing his brother's house in Caernarfon as his address while living in Cardiff, and Simon Hayes is alleged to spend time in a Northamptonshire village with his vicar wife while having claimed he lived just outside Southampton. Roddick is accused of listing his brother's house in Caernarfon as his address while living in Cardiff. Hayes is alleged to spend time in a Northamptonshire village with his wife while having claimed he lived just outside Southampton.
Both commissioners are independents with no political party backing. As neither has yet appointed a deputy, local councillors would be forced to choose unelected members of the PCCs' staff as temporary replacements. Both commissioners are independents with no political party backing. As neither has yet appointed a deputy, local councillors would be forced to choose unelected members of the PCCs' staff as temporary replacements. Tal Michael, who stood for Labour in north Wales, told the Mail on Sunday: "The implications if a commissioner is found guilty of electoral fraud are that we will need to have another costly election the public don't want."
Tal Michael, who stood for Labour in North Wales, told the Mail on Sunday: "The implications if a commissioner is found guilty of electoral fraud are that we will need to have another costly election the public don't want." Roddick, a 72-year-old barrister, listed his address before the election as being in Caernarfon, within the north Wales police area, but electoral roll and Land Registry records show his main home for more than 20 years has been 175 miles (282 km) away in Cardiff. The Caernarfon house is owned by his brother and sister-in-law.
Roddick, a 72-year-old barrister, listed his address before the election as being in Caernarfon, within the North Wales police area, but electoral roll and Land Registry records show his main home for more than 20 years has been 175 miles away in Cardiff. The Caernarfon house is owned by his brother and sister-in-law.
The IPCC has been told that Roddick, who earns £70,000 a year as a PCC, had given a false address, and started investigations into the allegations, reportedly without his knowledge.The IPCC has been told that Roddick, who earns £70,000 a year as a PCC, had given a false address, and started investigations into the allegations, reportedly without his knowledge.
Hayes, a former Conservative councillor who won the PCC ballot in Hampshire as an independent, is similarly accused of not living in the area he was chosen to represent on polling day.Hayes, a former Conservative councillor who won the PCC ballot in Hampshire as an independent, is similarly accused of not living in the area he was chosen to represent on polling day.
Hayes -– who earns £85,000 a year – has worked in the county for many years, previously owned a house there. For the election he gave his address as a house in the small town of Bishop's Waltham, but the Mail on Sunday reports that he does not own the property and lives with his wife Miranda, a vicar in the Northants village of Earls Barton, 115 miles away. Hayes, who earns £85,000 a year, has worked in the county for many years and previously owned a house there. For the election he gave his address as a house in the small town of Bishop's Waltham, but the Mail on Sunday reports that he does not own the property and lives with his wife Miranda, a vicar, in the village of Earls Barton, 115 miles away.
Hayes told the Mail on Sunday: "I am content that I completed the nomination form correctly. There is an accusation which is being investigated by the IPCC. I am quite content that it is being investigated." Hayes told the Mail on Sunday: "I am content that I completed the nomination form correctly. There is an accusation which is being investigated by the IPCC. I am quite content that it is being investigated."
This is the latest problem facing the new post of police crime commissioner. Just 15.1% of registered voters took part in the November elections, which were reported to have cost £75m, the lowest recorded level of participation at a peacetime non-local government election in Britain.
Just 15.1% of registered voters took part in the November elections, which were reported to have cost £75m – the lowest recorded level of participation at a peacetime non-local government election in Britain. In April, the teenager Paris Brown resigned from her £15,000 role as the first youth PCC after it emerged that she had sent a series of offensive online comments. In July, the Thames Valley commissioner Anthony Stansfeld had to repay £142 in travel expenses, which he blamed on an error.
In April, teenager Paris Brown resigned from her £15,000 role as the first youth PCC after it emerged that she had sent a series of offensive online comments. In July, Thames Valley PCC Anthony Stansfeld had to repay £142 in travel expenses, which he blamed on an error.
Following the IPCC's investigations a senior commissioner will decide whether to pass the file to the Crown Prosecution Service. If Roddick or Hayes were charged with election fraud and convicted, they would be ineligible to stand as PCCs in future elections.Following the IPCC's investigations a senior commissioner will decide whether to pass the file to the Crown Prosecution Service. If Roddick or Hayes were charged with election fraud and convicted, they would be ineligible to stand as PCCs in future elections.
An IPCC spokesman confirmed it was investigating both PCCs. "We have received a referral and are at the early stages of an investigation. We are unable to comment further at this stage," he said. An IPCC spokesman confirmed it was investigating both men. "We have received a referral and are at the early stages of an investigation. We are unable to comment further at this stage," he said.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday.