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| Cornwall Councillor Alex Folkes rejects child risk claim | Cornwall Councillor Alex Folkes rejects child risk claim |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A councillor named as a "risk" to children has denied the claims, saying he is a victim of bullying. | A councillor named as a "risk" to children has denied the claims, saying he is a victim of bullying. |
| Cornwall Council has urged schools in Alex Folkes' Launceston ward not to allow the councillor near children. | Cornwall Council has urged schools in Alex Folkes' Launceston ward not to allow the councillor near children. |
| Mr Folkes said the council had been alerted to a 2006 police probe launched after his credit card was linked to a child pornography website. | |
| He said his card had been cloned, he had been cleared by police and had "never viewed any such images". | He said his card had been cloned, he had been cleared by police and had "never viewed any such images". |
| Liberal Democrat Mr Folkes said on his blog that he was one of many people arrested after their credit or debit cards were linked to a site containing indecent images of children. | Liberal Democrat Mr Folkes said on his blog that he was one of many people arrested after their credit or debit cards were linked to a site containing indecent images of children. |
| 'Vigilante action' | |
| He said he was able to show the police his card had been cloned and used illegally in the past for items including a hotel stay in Brazil, which he reported to his bank, and the investigation was dropped. | He said he was able to show the police his card had been cloned and used illegally in the past for items including a hotel stay in Brazil, which he reported to his bank, and the investigation was dropped. |
| He said council officers "seem to think they know better than the police did back in 2006 when they had all the evidence and were able to conduct a full and thorough investigation". | He said council officers "seem to think they know better than the police did back in 2006 when they had all the evidence and were able to conduct a full and thorough investigation". |
| And he said that as a result of the council's statements he was "in danger of some sort of vigilante action". | And he said that as a result of the council's statements he was "in danger of some sort of vigilante action". |
| Cornwall Council said it was investigating information "raising serious child protection concerns" relating to Mr Folkes. | Cornwall Council said it was investigating information "raising serious child protection concerns" relating to Mr Folkes. |
| Chief executive Andrew Kerr has asked Mr Folkes to resign from his position as a councillor for Launceston. | Chief executive Andrew Kerr has asked Mr Folkes to resign from his position as a councillor for Launceston. |
| An email from Trevor Doughty, the council's director of education, health and social care, urged schools, children's settings and sports clubs in Mr Folkes' ward not to allow the councillor near children. | An email from Trevor Doughty, the council's director of education, health and social care, urged schools, children's settings and sports clubs in Mr Folkes' ward not to allow the councillor near children. |
| Mr Folkes stood down from his cabinet position as head of finance and resources on 4 November, citing "personal issues". | Mr Folkes stood down from his cabinet position as head of finance and resources on 4 November, citing "personal issues". |
| Mr Folkes now says these "issues" were about his arrest over the child porn investigation, which was revealed in a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check. | Mr Folkes now says these "issues" were about his arrest over the child porn investigation, which was revealed in a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check. |
| 'Properly dealt with' | 'Properly dealt with' |
| Someone had raised the issue with officers from the council's child protection team in the last few weeks, he said. | Someone had raised the issue with officers from the council's child protection team in the last few weeks, he said. |
| Since then, anonymous letters and emails had been sent to the press and to opposition councillors. | Since then, anonymous letters and emails had been sent to the press and to opposition councillors. |
| He wrote: "In 2009 when I was elected to Cornwall Council my arrest was flagged up in an enhanced CRB check. | He wrote: "In 2009 when I was elected to Cornwall Council my arrest was flagged up in an enhanced CRB check. |
| "I discussed this matter with the chief legal officer of the council. He told me that he would discuss it with the (then) leader Councillor Alec Robertson. | "I discussed this matter with the chief legal officer of the council. He told me that he would discuss it with the (then) leader Councillor Alec Robertson. |
| "I heard no more about this from the legal officer, Mr Robertson or anyone else. I assume that they took the view, quite rightly, that the matter was properly dealt with by the police and considered closed." | "I heard no more about this from the legal officer, Mr Robertson or anyone else. I assume that they took the view, quite rightly, that the matter was properly dealt with by the police and considered closed." |
| Mr Folkes said Mr Kerr had not allowed him to correct the information held about him. | Mr Folkes said Mr Kerr had not allowed him to correct the information held about him. |
| He said the matter had "sadly" become public, solely because of the actions of the chief executive "who has bullied and harassed me and others throughout the process." | He said the matter had "sadly" become public, solely because of the actions of the chief executive "who has bullied and harassed me and others throughout the process." |
| He added: "I know the allegations are untrue and I am determined to prove it." | He added: "I know the allegations are untrue and I am determined to prove it." |
| He said he had invited the Liberal Democrats to investigate under its own disciplinary processes, and had meanwhile voluntarily suspended his membership and the party whip. | He said he had invited the Liberal Democrats to investigate under its own disciplinary processes, and had meanwhile voluntarily suspended his membership and the party whip. |
| 'Serious concerns' | 'Serious concerns' |
| A spokeswoman for the council said a formal investigation had been launched. | A spokeswoman for the council said a formal investigation had been launched. |
| "On 16 October, the council received information raising serious child protection concerns relating to Alex Folkes and immediately launched a formal investigation into the circumstances," she said. | "On 16 October, the council received information raising serious child protection concerns relating to Alex Folkes and immediately launched a formal investigation into the circumstances," she said. |
| "In view of the potential seriousness of the issues raised, Councillor Folkes was asked to stay away from the council whilst the investigation was carried out by senior officers from the authority in consultation with other agencies." | "In view of the potential seriousness of the issues raised, Councillor Folkes was asked to stay away from the council whilst the investigation was carried out by senior officers from the authority in consultation with other agencies." |
| Mr Kerr was unavailable for immediate comment. | Mr Kerr was unavailable for immediate comment. |
| A spokeswoman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "This matter is subject to an internal investigation by the council, not police." | A spokeswoman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "This matter is subject to an internal investigation by the council, not police." |
| Mr Folkes was first elected in 2009 and has built a high public profile. | Mr Folkes was first elected in 2009 and has built a high public profile. |
| In 2012 he admitted previously facing a court order for not paying his own council tax on time. | In 2012 he admitted previously facing a court order for not paying his own council tax on time. |