Five individuals have been arrested in Tameside as part of a police investigation into alleged offences related to the recent local elections, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have confirmed.

The arrests, carried out on Thursday morning, saw four men and a woman aged between 23 and 47 taken into custody on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud. They remain in custody for questioning.

The investigation focuses on concerns about candidates in the St Peter's ward of Tameside, specifically examining the process of how candidates were put forward and represented, and whether this adhered to relevant legislation and electoral procedures.

GMP received reports surrounding these concerns in the days leading up to and following the election on May 7. After initial enquiries last week, a full investigation has now been launched.

A GMP statement said: "We are working closely with the Electoral Commission and local partners as part of our enquiries. We will provide further updates as we progress our investigation."

A Tameside council spokesperson said: "We place great importance on upholding the integrity of the electoral process and we are working closely with the police and other relevant authorities to support their investigation."

For Oldham readers, this development underscores the vigilance required to maintain trust in local democracy. While the investigation is specific to Tameside, the Greater Manchester area, including Oldham, relies on robust electoral procedures to ensure fair representation.

GMP has assured the public that the investigation is thorough and that further details will be released as they become available. The force continues to work alongside the Electoral Commission to uphold electoral integrity across the region.