Public confidence in the integrity of council and parliamentary elections in Birmingham was shattered by the disclosure last year of widespread postal vote fraud.

A council scrutiny investigation concluded that national media publicity following the exposure of corruption at the 2004 local authority elections "brought shame" upon the city and its civic life.

People would not be reassured about the probity of future elections until the Government moved to tighten security surrounding the postal vote system, said Councillor Len Clark, who chaired the scrutiny committee.

The investigation was held in the aftermath of election court hearings earlier this year, which uncovered systematic postal vote fraud in Aston and Bordesley Green and led to the sacking of six Labour city councillors.

Election Commissioner Richard Mawrey QC said the corrupt practices extended across Birmingham and would not disgrace a banana republic.

He also criticised the lack of any system nationally to stamp out postal vote fraud.

Coun Clark (Con Quinton) said the council had taken a number of measures since the 2004 elections to check on applications for postal votes, but could do nothing more to wipe out malpractice without a change in the law.

He added: "We believe it is essential that weaknesses in the local administration of elections and in the national statutory framework are tackled vigorously.

"The city council must support its returning officer in demonstrating to Birmingham people that they can have full confidence in the system.

"We must establish a mechanism whereby the returning officer can consult with members on proposals to improve electoral administration, including possible changes to registration, polling and counting arrangements, the capacity and budget of the elections office. But the prime response must come from the Government in the form of changes to the law, particularly to tackle and defer postal voting fraud."

The scrutiny committee's recommendations include:

* Further steps to "clean up" the postal vote register, including checks on voters following an election.

* Writing to every person on the postal vote register before an election informing them of the way they have chosen to vote.

* The automatic issue of a receipt to anyone who claims at a polling station not to have applied for a postal vote but is registered for one.

* Working closely with MPs to lobby the Government for reform of the postal voting system.

The inquiry was highly critical of the council's arrangements for overseeing the 2004 council elections.

Polling stations had insufficient staff, allowing queues to build up, and canvassers were allowed to block entrances in some cases.

The scrutiny report added: "The arrangements for the count attracted the most criticism. Physical conditions for staff and observers were poor, with inadequate layout, seating and air conditioning, and a lack of refreshments.

"Inefficient security was highlighted, with no checks being made on cars or on candidates and agents entering or leaving the building. No standard counting methodology appeared to be in place, and generally there was an insufficient number of trained staff."