Merseyside Officer Named On BNP Member List

Merseyside Police has launched an investigation after the name of one of its officers was published on a leaked document containing British National Party (BNP) members.

Names, addresses, mobile phone numbers and job titles of more than 12,000 (BNP) members have been leaked online, prompting calls for a police investigation by the far right party's leader.

Serving and former police officers, soldiers, teachers and doctors listed as members were in fear for their jobs last night after the party's entire member register was posted on the internet.

A Merseyside Police spokeswoman said it was not confirmed whether the officer was a member of the far-right party.

She added: "Meanwhile, as a matter of urgency, we have immediately started an investigation into all aspects of this case. We will be keeping an open mind until all of the facts have been established."

Meanwhile, TalkSport radio presenter Rod Lucas was axed after his details were published on the list.

The station said it would no longer use the Sony award-winning DJ, whose name featured in the list.

"We were not aware of his membership of the BNP until today," TalkSport said in a statement.

Among the occupations of the party members, were members of the armed forces, teachers, an NHS doctor, journalist, nurse and a vicar.

While there is no formal ban on these professions from joining the BNP, its far-right political ideals and 'whites-only' membership policy deem it incompatible with frontline public service.

However, police officers - of whom there are some named on the published list - are banned from joining.

Peter Fahy, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police and spokesman for the Association of Chief Police Officers, said: "Membership or promotion of the BNP by any member of the police service, whether police officer or public staff, is prohibited.

"This is because such membership would be incompatible with our duty to promote equality under the Race Relations Amendment Act and would damage the confidence of minority communities."

He added: "Whilst the policy may have been controversial at the time it was enacted, in 2004, it has since been accepted by all staff and staff associations and remains unchallenged thus far."

In a statement on the party's website, BNP Leader Nick Griffin said the leak was a "disgraceful act of treachery" adding that the former BNP members involved had subsequently been sacked.

He also said a complaint with Dyfed-Powys Police had been lodged, on the grounds that the publication breached human rights and data protection laws.

(JM)