POLICE officers have contacted a Christchurch residents’ association over its campaign to have two of its committee members elected to the new BCP council.

Warning letters have been sent to the two candidates – Jim Biggin and Sue Fotheringham – and their printer following a complaint that promotional material lacked ‘imprints’ detailing who produced it.

Mr Biggin also confirmed his campaign in Commons ward was partly utilising funds from the association and said be believed there was no problem with this.

However it is understood a number of residents are unhappy and contacted the police.

He said he believed grievances had been raised by people concerned that their campaigns could be successful and said the issues had now been resolved following “lengthy” discussions with police.

Complaints were made to Dorset Police in March concerning their campaign leaflets and how their campaigns were potentially being funded by the Jumpers and St Catherine’s Hill Residents’ Association.

Both Mr Biggin and Ms Fotheringham are members of its committee – chairman and membership secretary respectively.

Det Sgt Andrew Kennard, of Dorset Police’s economic crime unit, said warning letters had been sent due to the lack of imprints but that other concerns did not warrant police intervention.

He said issues surrounding any alleged breach of election expenses could not be considered until all costs are declared after the May 2 vote.

Mr Biggin said he thought the complaints were being made maliciously by people worried that they might be elected in May.

“There are some people who feel we might be going to win and are trying to cause problems for us,” he said.

“We have had lengthy conversations with the monitoring officer and a police officer and everything now seems has been sorted.”

He added that funding for their campaigns was partly coming from the residents’ association after it received no objections after consulting with members with the remainder being paid for themselves.

The former actuary said their decision to put forward candidates was made because they wanted to make the most of the merger with Bournemouth and Poole councils to encourage more investment in Christchurch.

“I would like to represent Christchurch in a more positive way than a lot of councillors have been since the demise of Christchurch council.

“I want to see us participate in this council – I don’t want to keep looking back.

“We need to be looking forward and saying: ‘we need inward investment to come through’.”

Elections for the 76 seats on Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council will take place on May 2 with votes counted the following day.