Four Labour figures have been charged after a criminal investigation into alleged vote rigging in London.
Joel Bodmer, 40, Shila Bodmer, 41, and former councillors Gabriel Leroy, 24, and Carole Bonner, 69, have been charged with computer misuse.
The Met probe followed allegations the Labour Party database was manipulated to increase a candidate’s chances of being selected to run for Croydon East in the 2024 general election.
Joel Bodmer, a regional organiser for trade union Unison who was the prospective candidate for the seat, is also charged with perverting the course of justice after claims phone records were altered.
Labour had to suspend the selection process in the south London seat in 2023 after complaints about party members’ contact details being changed.
Phone numbers were allegedly also modified and fake email addresses submitted, preventing some hopeful candidates from contacting Labour members in the run-up to the selection vote.
The Met Police began an investigation in March 2024.
Joel Bodmer, 40, was one of the Labour candidates to stand for the Croydon East seat in the 2024 general election
The force said today: ‘The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised charges against four people after an investigation by the Met’s Cyber Crime Unit into allegations that a Labour Party database was manipulated to increase a candidate’s chances of selection in Croydon.
‘The individuals have been charged with conspiracy to commit an offence contrary to Section 1(1) of the Criminal Law Act 1977 and Section 3 of the Computer Misuse Act 1990:
‘Joel Bodmer is also charged with perverting the course of justice.’
Mr Bodmer withdrew from the race after complaining of suffering ‘abuse’ during the selection process.
‘I do not want to expose myself or my family to the distressing level of abuse that arose from some quarters during the original selection campaign,’ he said in a statement at the time
‘My personal circumstances are now very different from when I put myself forward for Croydon East in the summer of 2023 and I do not currently have the emotional energy required for this contest.’
Natasha Irons won the selection and was elected the Labour MP for Croydon East.
Frank Ferguson, Head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: ‘We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings against these defendants are active and that they have the right to a fair trial.
‘It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.’
