Labour has raised concerns with the elections watchdog over alleged police failures to address intimidation faced by Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood and her supporters during the general election campaign in Birmingham Ladywood.

A document submitted to the Electoral Commission, seen by The Guardian, details several incidents where West Midlands police allegedly failed to intervene.

These events occurred in the heat of a contentious campaign between Mahmood and her political opponent, Akhmed Yakoob, who opposed Labour’s stance on Israel-Palestine.

One incident involved Mahmood's family being targeted, with police purportedly leaving the vote count early.

Labour accuses officers of failing to intervene during multiple reports of canvasser harassment by Yakoob supporters.

In one instance, a black Labour canvasser was allegedly told she should avoid mainly Asian areas.

Further, it was claimed that Mahmood’s canvassing was disrupted by verbal abuse and intimidation by Yakoob supporters using a vehicle with inflammatory messages.

Remarkably, tension peaked on polling night when police left before declarations, prompting emergency calls for safety concerns.

Labour’s submission followed a report by the Electoral Commission, which revealed that over half of candidates faced abuse during their campaigns, with women and ethnic minorities significantly affected.

Akhmed Yakoob, a solicitor with a notable social media presence, is under investigation for promoting false racism claims, and has expressed controversial views on gender roles.

While Mahmood retained her seat, her margin significantly shrunk.

West Midlands police state they are reviewing several allegations reported during the campaign, ensuring public safety and election integrity were priorities.

The Electoral Commission calls for enhanced police action against election-related intimidation, citing serious candidate harassment concerns.