Electoral offences had 'no effect' on poll results

Police received more than 230 complaints of malpractice in connection with last year's general election, it has been revealed.

However, none of the incidents affected the outcome of polls, according to a report by the electoral watchdog and law enforcement bodies.

Of the 232 allegations during the campaign and its aftermath, 216 were made in England, nine in Scotland and seven in Wales. Northern Ireland saw 25 complaints during the whole of 2010.

Some 38% per cent related to voting offences such as impersonating someone else at a polling station and tampering with ballot papers. Campaign offences, including allegations of false statements made in literature, accounted for 34 per cent.

Police decided to take no further action in more than half the cases (137), gave informal advice in 23, and issued cautions in two. Two allegations of electoral malpractice have resulted in court proceedings, including one in Manchester which saw a man fined 50 for distributing leaflets that claimed a candidate was corrupt.

By the end of last year, 68 cases were either still under investigation or awaiting advice from prosecutors, according to the study from the Electoral Commission, Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) and Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland (Acpos).