POLICE are investigating Clydach Community Council after allegations of harassment by one of its members and alleged hacking of emails.

Officers have confirmed they have spoken to one of the council members, Richard Simpson, under the Harassment Act, after a member of the public alleged they had been confronted by him in the street.

A spokesman for South Wales Police said: "Following a complaint of harassment, a 27-year-old man has been warned under the Harassment Act as to his future conduct."

However, Mr Simpson said he has since made a counter allegation against the individual, which has been acknowledged by South Wales Police.

Mr Simpson said: "An allegation was made against me and I have made a counter allegation."

It is not the only involvement police have had with Clydach Community Council over the past few weeks.

A former member of the community council has made a statement to police regarding email accounts being accessed by third parties who have no authority to do so.

A spokesman for South Wales Police said: "Information in respect of the allegations has been collated, and has been forwarded to a specialist unit for examination and analysis, and we are currently awaiting the results."

Council chair Gillian Wakeman said the council had no comment to make on the allegations.

The allegations come weeks after a report by the Wales Audit Office which found Clydach Community Council had spent £14,676 of "unnecessary and avoidable expenditure", due to poor account keeping and bad administration.

Councillors issued a public apology following the publication of the report.

The council serves around 7,000 people which it funds by a precept of £44,000 from Swansea Council.

The report discovered that the avoidable expenditure had arisen from bank charges and interest, late payment charges from suppliers, excess payments of salary and additional book-keeping charges.

nino.williams@swwmedia.co.uk