Council fines 25 residents for failing to complete their registration forms

Hounslow Council has revealed that it has prosecuted 25 residents for failing to complete their electoral registrations.

Letters warning of potential legal action were sent out in January to addresses where a member of the household refused to provide the necessary information to canvassers visiting residents.

104 residents were sent prosecution letters on 4th January. Of these, 40 residents sent back a completed voter’s registration form before a summons was issued. 64 residents were issued with a summons, 39 residents returned a completed form before their court date with the matter being withdrawn and a total of 25 residents were fined

All cases were held at Brentford Magistrates Court.

Councillor Jagdish Sharma Leader of London Borough of Hounslow said, “We have a legal duty to make sure the local electoral register is up to date and we have prosecuted people who have refused to complete this for the past 4 years.

“The vast majority have completed their forms, but the small proportion of residents who repeatedly ignored our requests were prosecuted.

“Those who return their forms before the court date can still avoid the prospect of receiving a £1,000 fine.”

September 7, 2010