POLICE are to take no further action over the deputy leader of Poole council after she failed to declare an interest in a £2 million property quickly enough in her Canford Cliffs ward.

A complaint against May Haines was made recently by an individual from Poole to Tanya Coulter, who is now the monitoring officer for both Poole and Bournemouth councils.

She then referred the matter to Dorset Police’s Economic Crimes Unit to be investigated.

However, officers last night confirmed they were not taking the matter any further.

A spokesman for the force said: “Dorset Police received a referral from the Monitoring Officer in connection with the Localism Act 2011 regarding a Poole councillor. Following a review of the matter referred no police investigation is to be commenced.” Cllr Haines, whose portfolio areas include finance and corporate services, purchased a property in Lagoon Road in July but did not register it as a pecuniary interest, which is a legal requirement under the Localism Act 2011.

Once the issue was brought to Cllr Haines’ attention, she updated the register of interests.

Cllr Haines, who has been a ward councillor for Canford Cliffs since 2007, said it was “purely an oversight”.

“It’s correct my husband and I purchased the property, and shortly after I made changes to the electoral register and the council tax register.

“There are so many people to notify and, hand on heart, it was purely an oversight on my part not to update the register of interests.

“There was no intent to hide the fact,” she told the Daily Echo.

“As soon as the matter was brought to my attention, I rectified it immediately.

“The matter was also brought to the attention of the monitoring officer, and she was obliged to refer it on as it is the process, which is fair enough.”

Cllr Haines said she and her husband did not move into the property straight away after completion, which is why she did not declare the interest at first.