Tough new guidelines will be drawn up by Bradford Council to prevent a repeat of violence that erupted on the night of the May Council elections.

More than 100 people were involved in a disturbance in the St George's Hall count which was later branded a disgrace to the city.

The violence followed fights involving 20 people with baseball bats and hockey sticks at polling stations in the volatile Toller ward.

Now an independent report into the night of violence links the St George's Hall disturbances with the earlier Toller fighting which resulted in eight arrests.

Former chief executive of Calderdale Council, Michael Ellison, was commissioned by Bradford Council to carry out a full inquiry into the unprecedented scenes which erupted during the Toller and Little Horton ward counts in St George's Hall on May 7.

Mr Ellison says neither the Council nor police were to blame for what happened.

But he says Council liaison with police about covering the counts and poll should begin at least six weeks before polling day.

He also says risk assessments of the venues should be shared by both parties.

Mr Ellison, former chairman of the election panel of the Chief Executives' Association, said St George's Hall should not be used again for counts because of problems in keeping secure both the counting area and the rest of the building.

In his report he says claims were made to him that unauthorised people got into the count using other people's official passes which were passed out to them.

And he says counts for the Little Horton and troubled Toller ward should never again be at the same venue.

Mr Ellison has also passed on to West Yorkshire Police serious allegations of impersonation at polling booths - although he says they cannot be verified.

During his probe he heard claims that polling cards were sometimes taken from voters and used by others, pretending to be the person on the card.

Mr Ellison has warned that this is a serious criminal offence where courts may be asked to set an example through strong penalties.

He interviewed 24 people including councillors, the police and 15 eye witnesses during his inquiry.

The full report is not yet published but will go, along with his recommendations, to the Council's policy and resources committee in October.

In a joint statement today leaders of all political groups on Bradford Council, Councillor Ian Greenwood (Labour), Councillor Margaret Eaton (Conservative) and Councillor Jeanette Sunderland (Liberal Democrat) said: "All the political parties are in agreement that steps will be taken to avoid any repeat of the disgraceful violence which erupted at St George's Hall.

"We all agree with Mr Ellison that allegations of impersonation are extremely serious, and we will take all steps to eradicate this and any other similar abuses of the democratic process. There will be no tolerance of any individual or group which sets out to damage democracy or the good name of Bradford."

Superintendent Dave Richardson, Central Police Division Commander said: "We welcome the report and are pleased to see that the responsibility is placed with those men who were intent on disrupting the democratic process and fighting at the count.''

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