Probe into Tories over use of call centre in election
THE Tories are being investigated by the police over claims that they broke the law during the general election campaign with their use of a call centre.
Detectives said they were carrying out an inquiry of ‘scale and significance’ into allegations about the way the Conservative Party used the call centre in South Wales.
The investigation into the use of the business in Neath was confirmed in a letter from South Wales Police to Labour MP Wayne David.
Secret footage obtained by Channel 4 News suggested the Tories may have broken data protection and election laws by using Blue Telecoms to contact voters in marginal seats directly.
The Conservative Party has said that it did not break the law by using the company, which it said was hired to carry out legal market research and direct marketing.
In a letter to Mr David, South Wales Police confirmed that the investigation is being carried out by its economic crime unit, which has experience in dealing with ‘ electoral integrity investigations’. The letter said the investigation is of ‘sufficient scale and significance that South Wales Police are unable to offer any specific timescale’ for how long it will take.
The letter added: ‘Rest assured that the officers within this department have the required specialist skills and expertise for this often challenging area of business and will, as with all investigations, act in a diligent and expeditious manner.’
The Information Commissioner’s Office has also announced it is investigating the party over allegations of cold calling. It said that it is ‘currently investigating the Conservative Party in relation to a possible breach of Regulation 21 of the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003’.
Mr David, the Labour MP for Caerphilly, said: ‘I am pleased that both the police and the Information Commissioner’s Office are conducting detailed investigations.
‘The allegations that the Conservative Party and Blue Telecoms broke electoral law during a general election campaign are extremely serious and the public need to have confidence in our electoral process.
‘That is fundamental to our democracy.’
A spokesman for South Wales Police said: ‘South Wales Police is currently reviewing information received in regards to Blue Telecoms. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.’