Statement on the Metropolitan Police's investigation into Vote Leave and Darren Grimes

11 May 2020 03:01 PM

Commenting on the decision from the Met Police to close the investigation into Vote Leave and Darren Grimes, a spokesperson for the Electoral Commission recently said: 

“It is right that potential electoral offences are properly investigated by the appropriate authority. We referred this matter to the police so that offences that lie outside of the Commission’s remit could be properly investigated. We are pleased that the Met Police have taken the matter seriously. 

“The matters we asked the police to consider were separate and further offences to those we found Vote Leave had committed, for which we imposed fines, which they have paid.

“When asking the police, as the proper authority to consider those matters, we did so in order that the evidence can be properly and fairly considered.”

Background

• Darren Grimes has already been cleared of committing electoral offences.
• The Met Police were investigating separate suspected offences to those found by the Electoral Commission.
• The Commission referred both Mr David Halsall the responsible person for Vote Leave, and Mr Grimes to the Metropolitan Police in relation to false declarations of campaign spending.
• Vote Leave were fined £61,000 on 17 July 2018. 
• Vote Leave appealed the Commission's findings but dropped its appeal on 29 March 2019. It has paid its fine in full. 
• It was fined £20,000 for failing to provide an accurate spending return, failing to comply with a statutory notice and for exceeding its spending limit. It was fined £1,000 for failing provide invoices and receipts in its returns.