Thames Valley Police have been asked to lead an independent investigation into the Wiltshire PCC election controversy with a re-run of the vote estimated to cost around £1million.
A spokesperson for Wiltshire Police saying: “We have asked another police force to lead on this work to ensure independent oversight and to remove any potential conflict of interest.”
“Following a request by Wiltshire Police, we have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the 2021 Wiltshire and Swindon Police and Crime Commissioner election.
“As our enquiries are ongoing we will not be making further comment at this time.”
Jonathon Seed, the Conservative candidate was unable to claim victory after winning the Police and Crime Commissioner election on Monday due to a historical driving conviction.
Electoral Commission guidelines states PCC candidates can’t stand for election if they’ve been convicted of an imprisonable offence – even if the conviction is spent or they were never jailed.
After withdrawing from the election the day before the count, Mr Seed said: “To the best of my knowledge and belief when I applied for, and became the Police and Crime Commissioner candidate for the Conservative Party in Wiltshire and Swindon, I was an eligible candidate.”
“I have declared my 30-year-old driving conviction to the party in my applications to be a Parliamentary candidate and more recently a PCC candidate.”
A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said: “Following a request by Wiltshire Police, we have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the 2021 Wiltshire and Swindon Police and Crime Commissioner election. As our enquiries are ongoing we will not be making further comment at this time.”
Mr Seed won the election with 100,003 first and second preference votes.
