Four women charged with election fraud following Derby vote last year

FOUR women are to appear in court as part of an investigation into allegations of fraud during the elections in Derby last year.

Cousins Tameena Ali and Samra Ali, their aunt, Nasreen Akhtar, and Noshiela Maqsood, who is no relation, will appear at Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court on April 15.

Tameena Ali, 27, and Samra Ali, 28, have been charged with personation offences, while Akhtar, 46, has been charged with misconduct in public office.

A spokeswoman for Derbyshire police said the three were arrested last June on suspicion of committing serious electoral malpractice under the Representation of the People Act 1983.

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Maqsood, 23, was arrested in January on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice and has now been charged with this offence.

The police spokeswoman said they had been working closely with Derby City Council to investigate the alleged fraud in the Arboretum ward, which is said to have taken place during the local elections held across the city on May 3.

Jane Wragg, specialist prosecutor handling special crime in the Crown Prosecution Service, said: "After careful consideration, I have concluded there is sufficient evidence and that it is in the public interest to charge Tameena Ali and Samra Ali with the offence of personation, to charge Nasreen Akhtar with misconduct in public office and to charge Noshiela Maqsood with perverting the course of justice.

"These decisions were taken in accordance with the code for crown prosecutors."

At last year's elections, the Arboretum ward was a gain for the Labour party as Gulfraz Nawaz received 1,757 votes.

Tullah Khan, of the Liberal Democrats, received 1,743 votes; Simon Hales, of the Green Party, 248; and Ross McCristal, from the Conservatives, 186.