Warning after Tory election posters '˜damaged'

Wakefield's Conservative group claim some of their election posters have been damaged.
Nadeem Ahmed.Nadeem Ahmed.
Nadeem Ahmed.

Group leader Nadeem Ahmed said that campaign propaganda put up in the Wakefield Rural and Wakefield South wards had been removed.

The Tories are competing with Labour and the Lib Dems for votes in the Wakefield Rural Ward in the local elections on May 3. The three main parties are also fielding candidates in Wakefield South, alongside the Yorkshire Party.

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Political groups must seek permission to publicly display election posters and it is illegal for members of the public to remove them without consent.

Wakefield Council confirmed their returning officer had been alerted to the incident and said that all candidates had been reminded of the rules regarding campaign posters.

There is no suggestion that rival candidates standing against the Conservatives are responsible.

Mr Ahmed said the removal of the posters was “disappointing”.

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He said: “It’s a criminal offence and we’ve reported it to the police and the returning officer because it’s criminal damage. You need permission to put the posters up, so they shouldn’t be taken down.”

Bernadette Livesey, Wakefield Council’s city solicitor, said: “We have received a report of election campaign material being damaged in the Wakefield Rural ward.

“We have issued all candidates and agents with further guidance to remind them that it is a criminal offence to damage an opposition’s election campaign material. We would urge anyone with any information to contact the police on 101.”

David Spereall , Local Democracy Reporting Service