Police have been informed of allegations in the crucial constituency of South Thanet after claims that UKIP supporters have been using intimidation and verbal abuse against non-UKIP voters.
With the constituency being particularly important to the party, supporters aligning themselves to the party Leader Nigel Farage were accused of pressuring people as they approached polling stations with swearing and verbal abuse.
The UKIP leader has denied that any of his officials have been involved in these incidents, but he can not be held accountable for the actions of unknown people claiming to be from UKIP.
Labour have also had their fair share of accusations, with their supporters being accused of destroying UKIP posters.
However, there have been several reports against these intimidation allegations, with Pete Wallace, Labour’s constituency organiser in South Thanet, telling police of four different incidents from Thursday morning.
In one incident, voters have reported being intimidated by UKIP supporters, when approaching the polling stations. Another involved a group of UKIP-supporting men allegedly abusing voters of other parties calling them “scum.” Wallace also reported that three men walked into Labour’s town office and swore at volunteers.
With the results in South Thanet so crucial to the future of UKIP with Farage having promised to stand down as the party leader if he loses his seat, the constituency has seen a tense battle between Farage himself and Tory opponent, Craig Mackinlay.
With this, there have also been accusations of UKIP supporters and local councillors receiving their share of hostile activity. It has been alleged that local councillor’s properties have been attacked with their posters ripped up continually through their campaign. One councillor’s window has been smashed while other homes have been spray painted, according to a Party spokesman.
Kent Police are now looking into reports of these “disturbances” at the polling stations but that their initial inures suggested no offences have occurred.
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