The Labour leader of a council has been charged with electoral malpractice.
Councillor Russell Bowden in charge of Warrington Borough Council, has been charged with four offences surrounding the 2021 council elections.
Among them is one count of providing a false statement in nomination papers, and three counts of providing false information to a registration officer
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He will appear at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Friday December 31st.
Councillor Bowden has been council leader since late 2018, having previously served as deputy under his late predecessor Terry O’Neill.
He retained his Birchwood seat following May’s all-out elections, and subsequently was backed to continue as council leader until 2024.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has authorised Cheshire Constabulary to charge a man in connection with allegations of electoral malpractice.
Earlier this year police received information relating to the Warrington local council elections 2021 and detectives launched an investigation.
In a statement Cheshire Constabulary said: “The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has authorised Cheshire Constabulary to charge a man in connection with allegations of electoral malpractice.
“Earlier this year, Cheshire Constabulary received information relating to the Warrington local council elections 2021.
“Detectives launched an investigation into the matter and, following advice received from the CPS, a number of charges have now been authorised.
“Russell Bowden has been charged with one count of providing a false statement in nomination papers, contrary to Section 65A of the Representation of the People Act 1983, and three counts of providing false information to a registration officer, contrary to section 13D of the Representation of the People Act 1983.
“He is set to appear at Crewe Magistrates’ Court on Friday 31 December 2021.
“Cheshire Constabulary and the Crown Prosecution Service would like to remind everyone that criminal proceedings against Bowden are live and that he has a right to a fair trial.”
