Now Met Police cyber-crime unit investigate Croydon Labour selection race

The Metropolitan Police has confirmed it has launched an investigation into an “internal selection process for a political party” in Croydon late last year.

Scotland Yard’s cyber crime team are investigating alleged “computer misuse” in the south London area. A spokesperson did not name the party but Labour began its selection process in Croydon East last autumn, only resuming it recently following its own probe into a data breach.

The contest had been temporarily halted in November last year, with a party investigation revealing that personal details of some members had been “altered on the Labour Party membership database without authorisation”.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “We have received allegations of computer misuse in relation to an internal selection process for a political party in Croydon during October and November last year.

“The Met’s cyber crime team are investigating and enquiries are ongoing.”

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Andrew Fisher, a member of Croydon Labour and former adviser to Jeremy Corbyn, said: “Members are really being let down by some seemingly terrible behaviour.”

Labour left campaign group Momentum said it raised “serious questions”, including who was responsible for changing members’ data, and what safeguards exist to stop further similar incidents. “Labour cannot sweep this under the carpet.”

Last week, Unison official Joel Bodmer announced he would be quitting the race to become Labour’s candidate for the constituency.

A source close to his campaign told LabourList he had faced a “considerable amount of abuse” during the initial campaign and that he “does not have the emotional energy to deal with this and fight the contest at this time”.

The announcement comes just hours after Keir Starmer helped launch Sadiq Khan’s re-election campaign as he seeks a third term as Mayor of London.

London Labour was approached for comment. One party source said the party was unable to comment on ongoing police investigations.

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