Kent police have declined a request by Ukip to investigate the BBC following an episode of Have I Got News For You.

The political party reported the broadcaster to Kent police claiming comments might have hindered its leader Nigel Farage’s chances of electoral success.

They suggested the programme breached the Representation of the People Act 1918.

Journalist Camilla Long appeared as panellist on the satirical programme broadcast on Friday evening.

She made remarks defending an article she’d written about South Thanet, the constituency in Kent where Farage is standing.

"I went there more than Nigel Farage" she said. "By the time I arrived there he'd only been a few times."

The comments followed 13 minutes of jokes about the Tories, Labour, Lib Dem and SNP campaigns.

Kent police today told The Independent there was “no evidence of any offences” and confirmed that there will be no further action.

Ukip gaffes and controversies Show all 18 1 /18 Ukip gaffes and controversies Ukip gaffes and controversies European elections poster Party's latest EU election posters branded 'racist' and compared to BNP campaigns Rex Ukip gaffes and controversies Farage 'car-crash' interview Ukip spin doctor forced to intervene as Farage falters in disastrous radio interview Ukip gaffes and controversies Neil Hamilton Picture Exclusive: The year is 1998. The venue is a Springbok Club meeting. The flag is a symbol for white supremacists in South Africa. And the speaker is Ukip’s deputy chairman, Neil Hamilton Ukip gaffes and controversies Kerry Smith Kerry Smith resigned as would-be MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock after it emerged he had mocked gay party members as “disgusting poofters”, joked about shooting people from Chigwell in a “peasant hunt” and referred to someone with a Chinese name as a “Chinky bird” PA Ukip gaffes and controversies Natasha Bolter Former Ukip member Natasha Bolter was suspected of not having the teaching qualifications she professed to, only days after it was revealed that claims of her having attended Oxford University were also false PA Ukip gaffes and controversies Ukip Calypso song Mike Reid released a single in praise of UKIP trying to control the UK's borders, only to withdraw the single after being accused of racism for singing in a Jamaican accent Ukip gaffes and controversies Janice Atkinson Janice Atkinson, Ukip's South East chair, pictured by protesters while campaigning in Ashford, Kent with local party chair Norman Taylor Facebook/Maria Pizzey Ukip gaffes and controversies Ukip cancels Freephone Ukip cancels Freephone number after protesters repeatedly called to push up costs Getty Images Ukip gaffes and controversies Farage 'car-crash' interview Mr Farage appeared to be caught out on a number of issues, from Romanian neighbours to people speaking foreign languages on the train Ukip gaffes and controversies Ukip employs illegal immigrants Ukip criticised after European election candidate found employing illegal immigrants AP Ukip gaffes and controversies Magnus Nielsen Ukip candidate: 'Take away the right to vote to improve election turnout' Getty Images Ukip gaffes and controversies Poster model A “British builder” portrayed in a Ukip poster accusing EU workers of taking UK jobs turns out to be an Irish actor - aka a migrant worker Ukip gaffes and controversies 'Arrest protesters' Ukip called for police to arrest protesters ‘who call us fascists’ ahead of showdown with anti-fascist groups in Brighton Ukip gaffes and controversies London Live make-up Ukip's Nigel Farage reportedly refused to go on London Live 'without professional make up-artist' Reuters Ukip gaffes and controversies Andre Lampitt Ukip forced to suspend the "poster boy" of its European election broadcast, after it was revealed he had posted a series of vile racist comments on Twitter Ukip gaffes and controversies Expenses Nigel Farage says he is taking taking legal advice over “outrageous” allegations that he is responsible for more than £50,000 of “missing” EU funding that was paid directly into his personal bank account Ukip gaffes and controversies Have I Got News For You Nigel Farage appears in Have I Got News For You, spends the entire episode being ridiculed over expenses and party 'fruitcakes' BBC Ukip gaffes and controversies Anti-gay comments Local branch chairman for Ukip defends a party's councillor candidate Douglas Denny who called gay people “abnormal” and said he wished “they stop trying to ram it down my throat”, all while discussing whether the word “sodomite” should be used

A statement from the constabulary reads: “Kent Police received a complaint regarding comments made on a television broadcast last week. It was suggested that the comments breached the Representation of the People Act.

“The matter has been reviewed by officers but there's no evidence of any offences and there will be no further action”

A BBC spokesperson said: “Britain has a proud tradition of satire, and everyone knows that the contributors on Have I Got News for You regularly make jokes at the expense of politicians of all parties.”

Farage told LBC’s Nick Ferrari that the BBC was “guilty of blatant prejudice”, adding: “We have complained like hell and we’ve written a number of letters to them.”