Written question asked by Jim Fitzpatrick (Labour) on Thursday, 25 February 2016, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 7 March 2016 (named day). It was answered by Robert Buckland (Conservative) on Monday, 7 March 2016 on behalf of the Attorney General.

Elections: Tower Hamlets

Question: To ask the Attorney General, what the deadline is for criminal prosecutions to be brought by the Metropolitan Police against people implicated in electoral fraud in Tower Hamlets as a result of the Election Court rulings against former mayor Lutfur Rahman.

Answer: The time limit for bringing proceedings for a criminal offence depends on the court in which the case can be heard. Proceedings for those offences which can only be tried in the magistrates court must usually be brought within 6 months of the alleged offence being committed. There is not usually a time limit for those offences which can only be prosecuted in the Crown Court or which can be prosecuted in either the magistrates or Crown Court. There are exceptions in relation to individual offences.

Secondary information