Why I am researching a private prosecution of Ms Hamilton, Ms Sandu, Cllr Rai and Jas Athwal MP


I say "Claire Hamilton, the Redbridge Chief Executive has refused to say within my deadline whether Ms Sandhu, the Redbridge Monitoring Officer investigated Jas Athwal last year when the BBC story broke about his unlicensed slum flats. The reason for non-disclosure appears to be that the Council believe Jas Athwal's privacy must be protected. This appears a nonsense, at the time of the BBC story, Jas Athwal was a councillor and MP and so bound by the Nolan code of conduct. This means that, unlike a private individual, he faces an investigation if there is an apparent breach of this code. Since the BBC story broke three MPs, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves and Angela Rayner and a Southwark Councillor Michael Situ all appeared in breach of Nolan and were all investigated. The refusal of Ms Hamilton, Ms Sandu, Cllr Rai and Jas Athwal to say whether an investigation took place causes a reasonable suspicion of misconduct in public office. Especially as unlike Rachel Reeves, Jas Athwal and Redbridge Council refuse to name the agent used by Jas Athwal. Every other landlord names their agent on the public register, so why should Jas Athwal be any different? This is important issue because if the people at the top of Redbridge Council are prepared to go to criminal lengths then it begs the question of what is happening in housing, planning and other departments they control. So I will researching the costs of a lawyers advice about whether a private prosecution is feasible. The usual routes to find out what has happened, freedom of information and a complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman take too long. The issue needs resolving as soon as possible because I cannot be the only person who cannot trust Council Officers and Cllr Rai to run a fair local election in 2026. I will report back when I have more news. "

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