Humberside Police are investigating Luke Campbell, the Reform UK mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, following an allegation of cyberflashing involving a female employee. The investigation began after police received a report in May 2026 regarding the alleged non-consensual sharing of a naked image. The employee has also filed documents with an employment tribunal, claiming she lost her position after rejecting unwanted sexual conduct.
Mr. Campbell, a former Olympic boxer who was elected mayor in May 2025, denies the allegations. A Reform UK spokesperson characterized the claims as an attempt by a "disgruntled employee" to obtain a settlement in what the party described as a "meritless workplace dispute." In documents viewed by The Observer, the employee alleged that she was exposed to naked and sexualized images of the mayor at work and was laughed at when she showed embarrassment.
Nadine Dorries, a Reform UK member, stated on social media over the weekend of October 17-18, 2026, that the image in question was a 2013 magazine cover featuring Mr. Campbell. The Hull and East Yorkshire combined authority stated it has procedures for handling complaints but declined further comment due to the active police investigation. The employee maintains that the conduct violated her dignity and created a "humiliating, degrading and offensive working environment."
The investigation occurs alongside scrutiny of Reform UK following an undercover investigation by ITV Exposure. The year-long probe, titled "Undercover: A Year in Reform," recorded various members using racist and violent language. Among those recorded was Solihull Councillor Alan Feeney, who has since resigned after he was filmed using derogatory terms to describe Asian families and suggesting they be removed from the country.
Additionally, a prospective Reform UK Member of Parliament, who has since been suspended, was recorded suggesting the creation of "concentration camps" for asylum seekers arriving in the UK via small boats. The ITV investigation followed candidates and councillors across England and Wales during local and by-election campaigns throughout 2025 and 2026.
The scale of the impact extends to the Reform UK party, which is managing the resignation of a councillor in Solihull and the suspension of a parliamentary candidate. The allegations of racist and violent rhetoric reported by ITV Exposure involve party operations across England and Wales documented over a year-long period.
For the public, this case highlights the application of cyberflashing laws and workplace conduct regulations within government offices. A person working in a public-sector role would notice the enforcement of "established procedures" for member complaints mentioned by the combined authority. The next steps in the legal process include the continuation of the Humberside Police enquiry and the progression of the employment tribunal. No specific dates for court hearings or tribunal rulings have been reported at this time.