Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the police on stationing police officers near polling stations in areas with previous instances of disorder, intimidation and undue influence.

Government is in close contact with partners, including police, to ensure the integrity of the local elections.

The decisions on the deployment of officers at polling stations is a matter for the police and Ministers cannot not intervene in any operational decisions. To do so would undermine the principle that the police are entirely independent of Government.

The police have a range of powers to deal with any behaviour that causes harassment, alarm or distress to others. The Government fully supports the police in their use of these powers to maintain public order and keep communities safe.