A Waltham Forest councillor is under police investigation for alleged fraud at a charity.

Labour’s Geoff Hammond, who represents Higham Hill ward in Walthamstow, was arrested last month by Westminster police investigating a reported fraud at an unnamed charity, it has emerged.

He has been suspended by the Labour party and has since resigned from his position as junior lead member of the council’s Residents First group.

The 50-year-old attended a central London police station by appointment on September 17, when he was arrested.

He was bailed until late November, pending further enquiries.

A residential address in Walthamstow was searched in connection with the investigation after his arrest.

The fraud is alleged to have occurred between May 2012 and July 2013.

A spokesman for Labour’s national executive committee said Cllr Hammond has been suspended from representing the party at any level, pending the outcome of this matter.

Cllr Hammond was elected to Higham Hill ward in May 2010, achieving 14 per cent of the vote.

He failed to be elected in a Valley ward by-election in 2008.

Deputy council leader Clyde Loakes has taken on the role of junior lead member of the Residents First group.