council and electoral roll

[andyp]

Last night (sunday) at about 7 o clock, we had quite a loud and aggressive knock at the door. Given we don't use the front door it took me about 30 seconds to move everything away from it to answer it. Stood there was a small looking bloke with a clipboard and an ID card round his neck. He showed me his ID card for all of half a second, stating he was from our local council. Of course I asked to look at his ID again, which he showed me for all of another second or two. I asked again, and he sighed quite loudly and gave me a look of annoyance when I wrote down his name and ID number.

He then proceeded to tell me that our household had received two letters regarding the electoral roll. We've had no such letter which I duly told him. He shrugged and told me it was an offence not to fill it in. I asked him how I was supposed to fill in a form I'd never received, and since when had it been a criminal offence not to be on the electoral roll. He didn't know. He stated again that it was an offence so I asked him under which act. He didn't know.

In quite an aggressive manner, he asked for my full name and the names of any other adults residing in our household - to which I asked him if the data protection act was applicable to the information he was asking. He didn't know. Quite aggressively again, he stated it was an offence not to complete the form and if I was refusing, I would suffer the consequences. I explained to him if he could answer my questions and I was satisfied with the answers he could come back at any time and we could sit down with a cup of tea whilst we filled in his form. He shrugged his shoulders again, and in quite a low and menacing tone informed me it wasn't up to me to question why I should or shouldn't be on the electoral roll, and he could come back at any time and demand I give him the details. I shrugged back at him and then he left. At no time was I aggressive back to him, or, I feel, asking unreasonable questions.

I'm quite interested to see what happens next.

 

[Nix]

Hmm, a quick search found this
http://www.walthamforest.gov.uk/index/council/elections/electoral-registration.htm#ero

Evidently, it may actually be an offence. Although, in your defence I think it's a stupid offence and the bloke at your door was highly unprofessional. I don't blame you for refusing, my initial thoughts would be that he was attemping fraudalent activities, albeit in a rather obvious manner.

 

[MeatLoaf]

We had exactly the same thing a few weeks back only they came at a more reasonnable hour. I assumed it was because we had recently moved house, even tho the council gave us a form to fill in at the time

 

[Defcon5]

Distraction burglary.

Since when do council staff work weekends, nevermind at 7pm

 

[Cuchulain]

Distraction burglary.

Since when do council staff work weekends, nevermind at 7pm

The ones who come round to "remind you" that you need to be on the electoral roll work all sorts of odd hours. We didn't bother filling ours in and we had a woman round at around 8pm on a Saturday night, she had some spare forms with her and we just filled them in there and then, she certainly didn't start mouthing off about it being a criminal offense not to (even though the form stated it was). I guess they work odd hours to make sure they catch people actually at home.

 

[K.C. Leblanc]

Distraction burglary.

Since when do council staff work weekends, nevermind at 7pm

It's normal actualy. The job of chasing this stuff up is offered to full time council employees as additional work.

 

[andyp]

They're still going to get an official complaint from me regarding his attitude and threatening tone of voice regardless of whether or not it's normal tp come nosing round people's houses at 7pm on sunday nights.

I took the Electoral Commission's telephone number as well to find out exactly why it's an offence not to give details but it's not an offence not to be on there, under which act of parliament it is an offence and what their policy on data protection is.

 

[Muffin`]

They will tell you it’s about national security - having people declare exactly who lives there, if they're not on it and they suspect someone's there who's a "terrorist" then they can search - or keep tabs on where people are.

 

[andyp]

I have no need to be on the electoral register - I don't intend to participate in a postal vote, I don't need credit - hell I don't even have a bank account and won't be needing one anytime soon either.

If I disappear for a while, I'll be in Guantanamo Bay - or Paddington Green

 

[Muffin`]

You will get asked to signup nicley - I suggest you do it.

 

[andyp]

Once I find out under which act of parliament it falls under, I'll make my decision as to whether I give them any details or not.

 

[IceAx]

I had someone come round on friday @ 6pm.

Said we hadnt returned a form - was a little sus at first but he had id
and the correct paperwork with council details on it.

Andy

 

[MookJong]

It's normal actualy. The job of chasing this stuff up is offered to full time council employees as additional work.

Yep, they can work whatever hours they want as long as they visit all of the households. My mate is busy making crazy money doing it.

 

[Felix]

They will need the name of the people for the calculation of council tax.

 

[Muffin`]

Once I find out under which act of parliament it falls under, I'll make my decision as to whether I give them any details or not.

Electoral Administration Act 2006

You have to be on it.

 

[Mr-White]

i dont vote so i never filled the form in either and then i kept receiving them saying i could be fined £1000 so i finally did. i also filled it in saying i didnt want to be in some directory that was being published needless to say i subsequently received letters saying i was in the directory then got another saying it was being released on x date.

i also found out it affects your credit rating by not filling it in.

MW

 

[hyper_piper45]

What if your name is on it but at a different address, e.g. your parents. Do you still have to fill it in?

 

[Muffin`]

What if your name is on it but at a different address, e.g. your parents. Do you still have to fill it in?

Well are you living at your parents? If your at Uni, you have to decalre that.

 

[andyp]

"The Electoral Administration Act aims to tackle four key areas at the core of a healthy democracy: improving access and engagement in the democratic system; improving confidence in the electoral system; extending openness and transparency in political party funding; and maintaining professional delivery of elections."

Laughable.

 

[do_ron_ron]

This is precisely why you are required to fill it in, it has less to do with the vote as the level of Council Tax you(the household) are required to pay.