BNP calls for police investigation after membership list posted on internet » Communities » 24dash.com

The far-right British National Party has demanded a police investigation after a full list of party members was posted on the internet.

The party said in a statement posted on its website that the list with the names, addresses and contact details of more than 12,000 individuals was "essentially genuine".

The list, which includes details of the jobs and in some cases the hobbies and qualifications of the members, claims to include former police officers as well as members of the armed forces.

BNP leader Nick Griffin (pictured) said: "We'll be asking the police to investigate. It's a list which is now just over a year old.

"Having spent a lot of money to secure our members' privacy we are disappointed that it's been breached."

In his statement on the BNP website, Mr Griffin described the publication as "a disgraceful act of treachery" by former BNP staff members who had subsequently been sacked.

He said that he had lodged a complaint with Dyfed-Powys police on the grounds that the publication breached human rights and data protection laws.

According to the BNP, the published list is based on its 2007 membership list although a number of names of people who were not or are not party members had been added.

Earlier this year, the party said that it obtained an injunction at the High Court in Manchester banning any publication of the list.

The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) last night confirmed that serving police officers were not allowed to be members of the BNP.

"Membership or promotion of the BNP by any member of the police service, whether police officer or police staff, is prohibited," said Peter Fahy, Greater Manchester Police chief constable and Acpo's workforce development spokesman.

"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.

"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 recent years the British National Party has attempted to shake off its skinhead image in an effort to persuade voters it has moved away from its extremist roots.

The far right party was formed in 1982 by John Tyndall, a co-founder of the National Front in the 1960s who spent time in jail for inciting racial hatred.

Today, BNP policy still calls for an immediate halt to immigration and the repatriation of all foreigners living in the UK.

But under the leadership of Mr Tyndall's successor Nick Griffin, a Cambridge law graduate, the party has sought to tone down its reputation for racist, jackboot tactics and broaden its appeal.

In 2006, Mr Griffin, along with party activist Mark Collett, was cleared of race hate charges relating to speeches he made describing Islam as a "wicked, vicious faith".

In the same year, English National Ballet dancer Simone Clarke was outed as a member after an undercover journalist infiltrated the party.

Yesterday it was revealed that a full list of members, including names, home phone numbers and email addresses, was posted on the internet.

Their occupations were reported to include serving and former police officers, servicemen and teachers.

In recent years, the BNP has gained significant ground, including a seat in the London Assembly.

In the 2005 general election, the party increased its total number of votes to 192,850, from 47,219 in 2001, according to reports.

It also aims to win seats in the European Parliament in June.