Police in election probe

May 1 2008 Julia Bosnyak, Glamorgan Gazette

A BITTER battle will be fought in today’s elections after a borough councillor reported a rival to the police.

A detective sergeant and a police officer turned up on the doorstep of independent candidate Ella Dodd after sitting ward member, Jackie Radford, made a formal complaint about her election newsletter.

The pair are vying for the Coity borough seat in a three-horse race with Labour’s Mike Sully.

The incident has prompted widespread sympathy in the village for Mrs Dodd, who said she was devastated and incredibly hurt by her opponent’s actions.

Coun Radford, a Liberal Democrat, caused an upset in 2004 when she beat Mrs Dodd, who had been the sitting Labour councillor, to snatch the Coity ward by just seven votes.

Mrs Dodd, still a community councillor, is standing as an independent this time as she tries to win back the borough seat.

But Coun Radford complained the 73-year-old grandmother had broken the rules by omitting the imprint on her election leaflet, which should give the name and address of the promoter.

“This is about the integrity of the whole electoral process,” said Coun Radford, aged 52.

“As candidates we all have a responsibility to abide by the rules and regulations set down by the Electoral Commission.”

She was also angry that in her newsletter, the Coity Crow, Mrs Dodd claims to have been an Independent community councillor for 30 years.

A council spokesman has confirmed that in the 2004 election results, Mrs Dodd was listed as a Labour candidate for both the borough and community council.

“In early April I pointed out personally and in a friendly way to Mrs Dodd that her election material did not comply with electoral law,” said Coun Radford.

“Despite my intervention subsequent material was unchanged.”

But Mrs Dodd was adamant she had always stood as an Independent for Coity Higher Community Council, where she remains uncontested.

She said there must be a mistake with the records and she plans to investigate the matter with the council.

Mr Sully, aged 49, said he thought the incident was petty and Coun Radford’s actions had simply strengthened support for Ella Dodd.

“I believe in a good clean fight and this has sent it down a dirty route,” he said.

“But I will shake the hand of whoever wins.”

Coun Radford said she contacted the police after seeking clarification from the council’s Electoral Services department, monitoring officer Andrew Jolley and the Electoral Commission.

“I was advised that the correct procedure was to bring the matter to the attention of the police, which I did, and I left the matter in their hands,” she said.

A council spokesman added: “Returning Officers have no jurisdiction in respect of electoral offences. The police have this responsibility.”

But Mrs Dodd feared the worst when CID officers turned up at her house at 4pm last Thursday.

“The first thing I thought when I saw them was that something terrible had happened to one of my sons,” she said.

“I thought they were there to tell me one of them had been killed. The detective told me Jackie Radford had gone to the Electoral Office and made an official complaint. It was just such a shock. I’m really upset that she could do something like that.

“I don’t believe in dirty tricks.”

Mrs Dodd said the police have taken no action against her. She said the incident has prompted the support of Coity residents, with one woman even handing her a bouquet in the Six Bells Pub.

“The whole thing has been very upsetting, but I have had wonderful support. I never thought people would react like this,” she said.

“They have put signs and posters up, and people are coming up to me to wish me well. It’s been lovely.”

A spokeswoman for South Wales Police would not discuss the incident, but said: “A complaint has been received in relation to the forthcoming elections in Bridgend. Enquiries are ongoing.

“We have a duty to investigate allegations of electoral fraud or wrongdoing.”