Question

To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, what the Electoral Commission's policy is on referral to the police of electoral registration officers who do not fulfil their legal obligations.

Where an ERO does not carry out their duties in full, the Commission’s priority is to take action to ensure that the ERO makes improvements to their performance in the discharge of their functions. In doing this, the Commission will consider all available options to determine a proportionate response based on the facts of each particular case.

Failure to comply with a legal duty can constitute an offence. It is open to anyone who believes that such an offence may have been committed to refer the matter to the police for investigation. In deciding whether to bring a prosecution the Crown Prosecution Service would consider all relevant circumstances, including the reasons for the alleged breach and whether a prosecution is in the public interest.