City postmen are being targeted by political gangsters trying to steal blank postal votes for next week's elections. West Midlands Police confirmed today they were investigating cases of mailmen being threatened with violence if they didn't hand over bags. A postman in Bordesley Green was offered a £500 bribe to give up his sack of postal votes before they were delivered. A friend told the Evening Mail: "He was shocked and very distressed because he believes his life could be in danger. He refused the bribe and got somebody to take him by car to the nearest police station." The police investigation has been triggered by a complaint from the Royal Mail, it is believed. There has been an explosion of postal voting in the city and politicians of all parties fear that the situation is wide open to fraud. With low poll returns --again particularly in inner city areas - postal votes could mean the difference between success and failure, with a £14,000-a-year job as a city councillor going to the victor. More than 70,000 blank votes are to be delivered before the June 10 polling day for city council and European Parliament seats, compared with 24,000 last year. The incidence is highest in inner city wards, particularly Bordesley Green where 8,600 postal votes are being delivered. The number of registered voters in the ward is only 18,000. Other hot-spots are Washwood Heath, with 5,600 postal votes, Aston, with 5,257, and Spark-brook with 4,510. In the outer suburbs Kingstanding has only 670, with Oscott, Selly Oak, and Perry Barr each having less than 800. City leader Sir Albert Bore, who faces the end of 20 years' Labour control of Birmingham, said: "There is a lot going on in this election - particularly in the inner cities." Liberal Democrat leader John Hemming, who has given police a dossier of abuses, said: "Political gangsters are at work following postmen on their rounds to see where the postal votes are delivered. "We must have the worst set of electoral processes in the world now. The system is wide open to corruption and abuse." A West Midlands Police spokesman said: "Officers are aware of these incidents and we are investigating." Royal Mail said: "We are aware an incident has taken place where a postman has been approached and asked for mail." | 
