A high-profile police investigation into ex-Jewish Leadership Council chief executive Jeremy Newmark has been shelved, the JC can reveal.

Last month, the JC reported police were probing fraud allegations against the Hertsmere Labour councillor relating to his time at the charity. 

But it is understood that, on Thursday, Mr Newmark was informed that the police were not proceeding with their probe. 

Last month, an independent report found that £111,734 of JLC funds could not be accounted for and that an additional £266,189 merited further investigation.

But a lack of proper accounting records left the investigating panel unable to give an accurate figure as to the full amount.

The panel said that its work was “seriously hampered” by the absence of key documents and records. It reported witnesses saying that, one week after Mr Newmark stood down as JLC chief executive, he “came into the office and ‘removed files, information etc’", which Mr Newmark denies.

The report followed the JC reporting in February last year how an internal audit reported Mr Newmark deceived the JLC out of thousands of pounds.

After the JC published the story, Mr Newmark resigned as chair of the Jewish Labour Movement — although he remains leader of the Labour group on Hertsmere Council.

In the 2017 election he was the Labour candidate for Finchley and Golders Green and lost by only 1,657 votes.