UPDATE: Police are looking into whether former East Devon councillor Graham Brown acted illegally
Police are looking into whether any wrong doing was committed by a former East Devon district councillor secretly caught on camera boasting that he could secure planning permission.
Two weeks ago the news broke that Graham Brown, the former East Devon District Council councillor for Feniton and Buckerell, who owns planning consultancy firm Greygreen Planning, was secretly filmed by undercover reporters boasting, "If I can't get planning permission, no one can."
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Despite the potential for a conflict of interest, it is not illegal for councillors to work as private planning consultants, however Mr Brown was suspended from the Conservative Party and subsequently resigned his seat as a result of his comments.
Mr Brown also resigned as chairman of the East Devon Business Forum, which was set up to provide a bridge of communication between the business community and the council. Mr Brown strongly denies any wrongdoing.
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The council previously confirmed it referred the matter or Mr Brown's comments to the police,under the Bribery Act 2010 and the council's own policy on Fraud, Theft and Anti-Corruption, who advised that the issue should first be considered by Action Fraud.
The country's national fraud reporting centre investigates potential fraud cases on behalf of the police, who make an assessment and pass a report back to police if necessary.
Now, a police spokesperson has confirmed that it is looking into the matter. No formal investigation has been launched however.
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