Four Labour Party activists have been formally charged by police following an investigation into allegations of manipulating a party database to influence a candidate selection process.
Joel Bodmer, 40, who sought selection as Labour's candidate for the Croydon East constituency, faces charges of perverting the course of justice related to allegedly altered phone records. The candidate selection process for the parliamentary seat was halted in November 2023 due to suspected irregularities and was restarted four months later, with Bodmer not participating in the new selection.
Alongside Bodmer, three others have been charged with conspiracy to commit offences under the Criminal Law Act and the Computer Misuse Act: Shila Bodmer, 41; former Southend councillor Gabriel Leroy, 24; and former Croydon councillor Carole Bonner, 69.
All four individuals have been suspended from the Labour Party pending the outcome of the investigation.
A Labour Party spokesperson stated: "These are incredibly serious charges. When complaints were first raised with the Labour Party we conducted a thorough internal investigation and we referred the matter to the police as soon as potential criminal wrongdoing was identified. We cannot comment further while legal proceedings are ongoing."
Bodmer serves as a regional organiser for the trade union Unison. A Unison spokesperson confirmed: "Joel Bodmer is an employee of the union and is currently on unpaid leave."
Frank Ferguson, head of the Crown Prosecution Service's Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, commented: "Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring this case to court and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings. We have worked closely with the Metropolitan Police Service as it has carried out its investigation."
Ferguson added: "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."
All four defendants are scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 19 May.