POLICE and council officials are to investigate complaints of electoral fraud involving individuals allegedly impersonating other voters.

The new Conservative leader of Pendle Council Cllr Paul White is calling for a tough crackdown using photographic proof of identification at polling stations to tackle the problem.

He said there had been several alleged cases of voter fraud in the borough at the local elections on May 3.

The leaders of the Labour and Liberal Democrat groups, Cllr Mohammed Iqbal and Cllr Tony Greaves, said they too were aware of possible impersonation fraud on polling day.

Philip Mousdale, Pendle Council’s corporate director and poll returning officer, said: “We have received a number of complaints about various things to do with the election.

“We are looking into them and, where appropriate, discussing them with the police.”

After claims in a 2012 House of Commons debate by Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson of voting fraud in the borough’s Asian community, the local authority was originally to be included in a trial of voter photo-ID, dropped last year after the council’s then Labour leadership objected.

Cllr White said: “I have been made aware of several alleged cases of impersonation on polling day last week and I have spoken to the returning officer to ensure these are taken up with the police. One relates to the polling station at Nelson town hall itself.

“We will seek to work with the Government to bring in voter ID in Pendle.

“We cannot have impersonation. We will always fight for free and fair elections. There is no place for corruption in elections here in Pendle”.

Cllr Iqbal said: “I saw an incident including two eastern Europeans turning up to vote with a name and address on a piece of paper. One did not do so when challenged. Any cases of voter impersonation should be investigated and prosecuted if there is evidence.”

Cllr Greaves said: “I have heard of allegations of voter impersonation on May 3. They must be investigated and dealt with.”

Cllr White said: “Last year the Labour leader Mohammed Iqbal and his administration voted against taking part in the voter ID trial being run by the government. We believe that this is a problem and urged the council to take part.”