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Hull Mayor Luke Campbell Under Police Probe for Alleged Cyberflashing
By Drooid · · How we work
Alleged Cyberflashing Incident and Investigation
In May 2026, a senior female officer at the Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority (Heyca) alleged that Mayor Luke Campbell showed her four “fully naked and sexualised images” of himself on his computer. She said she was “shocked, embarrassed and humiliated” and that Campbell and two male colleagues laughed at her reaction. Approximately three weeks later her offer of a permanent role was withdrawn during an eight-minute Teams call.
Humberside Police have opened an investigation and interviewed Campbell under caution earlier this month. No arrests or charges have been made, and Campbell has denied any wrongdoing.
Background & Context
Luke Campbell, a 39-year-old former Olympic gold-medallist boxer, became the first elected mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire in May 2025, winning 35.8 % of the vote in a Reform UK victory that left the council under no overall control.
Since taking office, Campbell’s tenure has faced other controversies. In August 2025 staff complaints described a “toxic working environment” at Heyca, after which Campbell asked five senior staff members to resign. An ITV-produced undercover investigation later revealed Reform UK councillors using racist and sexist language, prompting scrutiny of the party’s vetting processes.
Official Statements & Responses
Criticism & Opposition
- “These shocking allegations raise more serious questions about the standards Reform expects from those it puts forward for public office.” — Labour spokesperson
- “There is no room for racism in Reform UK. We always respect due process of investigations and whilst these are ongoing it would not be appropriate to comment on individual cases.” — Bridget Phillipson MP, Chair of the Labour Party
These remarks reflect broader concerns from opposition parties about Reform UK’s internal culture and the standards expected of elected officials.
Data & Statistics
- Election result: Campbell secured 35.8 % of the vote in May 2025.
- Council composition after May 2025: Reform UK gained ten councillors; the Liberal Democrats lost two seats, leaving the council with no overall control.
- August 2025 staff complaints led to the resignation request of five senior Heyca staff members.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The employment-tribunal filing alleges the officer was dismissed because she “rejected unwanted sexual conduct,” while Heyca’s internal grievance procedure is described as ongoing but its independence is questioned. No definitive legal finding has been made, and the police investigation remains active without public conclusions.
What’s Next
- The police investigation continues, with no publicly disclosed timeline.
- Heyca’s standards process and the internal grievance will proceed, though observers note uncertainty about the probe’s independence.
- Reform UK has pledged to improve vetting procedures, while opposition parties call for accountability should the mayor be found to have breached conduct standards.