Election 2015: Police issue warning over Scottish nationalist 'vote rigging' campaign

Police in Scotland have issued a warning to polling stations to be on the lookout for radical nationalists who are staging an 'anti-rigging campaign'.

Some pro-independence campaigners who believe last year's Scottish referendum was fixed in favour of Better Together claim the general election could also be rigged against the SNP party.

As part of a campaign named Operation Scallop, supporters are being urged to photograph their ballot paper and even follow the boxes to the counting centre to make sure they haven't been tampered with.

While taking photos in polling stations is technically legal, the photograph should not release any information "obtained in a polling station" such as someone's name and how they voted.

Police Scotland have now issued nationwide advice to poll officials to be on the lookout for suspicious behaviour and to be aware of people of beginning to queue to vote in the final hour of the polls being open.

Organisers of Operation Scallop are telling supporters to vote between 9pm and 10pm then "hang about outside" while the papers are being loaded into vans and follow them with their own vehicles.

Police have now issued the warning at polling stations following the supporters' claims "in the context of conspiracy theories after the referendum".

A spokesperson added: "That would include any threatening behaviour, either within polling places, outside them or during transit to the count.

"People are not encouraged and should not be allowed to take selfies, but obviously polling staff will need to make judgments about how or when they intervene with a view to their own safety and the efficient conduct of the poll."

The SNP has strongly rejected the theories that the referendum was rigged against them and do not believe the general election will be either.

A spokesperson said: "We are entirely satisfied that the referendum was a gold standard in terms of the robustness of the democratic process, popular engagement, and a result which accurately reflected the votes of the people.

"And we are equally satisfied about all the arrangements for the general election, in which we hope that the people of Scotland will come together to elect a big team of SNP MPs to make Scotland stronger at Westminster and help deliver progressive policies for the whole of the UK."

Ch Supt Jim Baird, the Police Scotland commander overseeing polling night operations, said: "We are aware of this. However, we will not comment on specific details of security arrangements.

"I would like to take this opportunity to assure the public that appropriate policing and security arrangements will be put in place to ensure the election process runs smoothly. The safety and security of the process is a top priority for Police Scotland and we have been liaising with the Electoral Commission and returning officers and will continue to do so throughout."

Nicola Sturgeon's SNP are predicted to take a huge number of seats from Labour in this election and could play a significant part in determining who is the next leading government.

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