Lincolnshire Police has been contacted following reports of election banners in the Folkingham ward being tampered with.
The Lincolnshire Independent banners put up in support of Jan Hansen in Thursday’s Lincolnshire County Council elections appear to have been targeted with the name of the candidate cut out of numerous banners.
The issue was raised by fellow Lincolnshire Independent David Bowles in his own online blog with a blog post entitled “Dirty tricks against independent candidate reported to police” which asks “Vandalism Or An Attack On Democracy?”
Mr Bowles writes that one sign disappeared on Sunday night but was replaced. On Monday night three were vandalised with the name of Mr Hansen “surgically removed”, Mr Bowles writes.
Mr Hansen is running against Lincolnshire County Council Leader Martin Hill (Con), John Morgan (Lab) and Brian Withnall (Lib Dem).
Mr Bowles adds in his blog: “It is difficult to conclude other than this is an affront to democracy, carried out as a result of some, to be charitable, misguided loyalty to one of the other candidates.
“I know Martin Hill the conservative candidate and the current leader of Lincolnshire County Council. He will have been mortified by this; I am sure the other candidates (Mr Morgan for Labour and Mr Withnall for the Lib Dems) will share that view.”
A spokesman for Lincolnshire Police said a call had been received making officers aware of the issue but no formal complaint has been made.