An election watchdog has called on the police to ask for more time to investigate claims about the general election expenses run up by the Conservatives in South Thanet.

The Electoral Commission says that more time would enable the police to pursue possible prosecutions.

The claims, first raised by Channel 4 news, centre on whether the expenses run up by the Conservatives in the South Thanet campaign were properly reported to the Electoral Commission.

The watchdog has been considering if the Conservative Party met its reporting obligations under the Political Parties Elections and Referendums Act (PPERA) 2000.

In particular, the commission has been examining two areas:

• The first is whether the spending reported by the party in its spending returns in relation to the Royal Harbour Hotel, Ramsgate, was not national campaign spending and therefore should not have been included in the party’s return.
• The second is whether spending on the Premier Inn Margate was national campaign spending and therefore should have been included in the party’s campaign spending return.

Any charges would normally have to be brought within 12 months of the general election but the law allows for an extension in certain circumstances.

In a statement, the commission said:

“As part of the investigation launched in February into Conservative Party campaign spending returns, it has requested the Crown (CPS) Prosecution Service and the police consider applying for an extension to the time limit available to pursue criminal prosecutions.”

A meeting is due to be held next week to consider the request with a final decision resting with the police and the CPS.

Bob Posner, Director of Party and Election Finance and Legal Counsel at the Electoral Commission said:

“The police and the CPS both have the power to apply to the courts to extend the time limit on bringing criminal prosecutions for electoral offences to allow for full investigations to take place. We have requested that they consider doing this.”

The Conservatives have denied any wrong-doing and say its expenses returns were all submitted in accordance with the rules.

In a statement explaining its request, the commission said:

“Given the significant penalties that parliament has made available for such offences, the Commission’s view is that in the absence of any current investigation by the police, it would be sensible for the criminal justice agencies to retain the ability to take action should appropriate evidence come to light as part of the commission’s own investigation.”

The battle for South Thanet was a high-profile campaign because of the efforts made by Ukip leader Nigel Farage to win the seat.

In the run up to polling day both sides flooded the area with activists and VIP visits.