REDBRIDGE: Teachers and police named as BNP members

5:23pm Wednesday 19th November 2008

Comments (2)   Have your say »

TEACHERS and police officers are among dozens of people living in Redbridge who are British National Party (BNP) members, it has been claimed.

The news emerged today following the release online of over 12,000 names, addresses and phone numbers of the party's members across the country.

BNP activist Danny Warville, of Ray Lodge Road in Woodford Green, said he feared members in the area could be targeted following the leak.

He said: “Our children could be in danger. We have people on the far-left who may plan to attack us now they have this information.

“I do know of teachers and police officers who are members here but then having said that we’ve got members from all sections of society.”

In total, 15 people from Woodford Green are listed as BNP members, along with five from South Woodford, three from Wanstead and 12 from Ilford.

Fellow BNP member Jason Douglas, of Rivenhall Gardens in South Woodford, said: “It doesn’t really have much effect on me because I’m self-employed but I know there will be a percentage of the party who will be a bit worried about it.

“One thing is that it does show the background of our members, we’re from all walks of society and we are proud of who we are.”

But Sonia Gable, of Redbridge-based anti-racism group Searchlight, said: “The impression we get is that BNP members are very concerned about having their details made public, as if they are ashamed.

“We’re not especially concerned about the BNP in Redbridge, unlike in Barking and Dagenham, because they’re so ineffective and have very little support here. People can see through their simplistic arguments and racist ideology.

"But BNP members do have the same rights to their privacy as anyone else, so our organisation does not want to see the list.”

Redbridge’s only BNP councillor, Julian Leppert, said: “The average member in Redbridge shouldn’t have anything to worry about. I’ve got quite a unique second name and I’m in the public eye and easy to find but I’ve never had a death threat or anything like that.

“But we’re in a situation where convicted criminals are allowed to continue serving as police officers but if you join the BNP you lose your job."

Under current legislation, police officers are banned from being members. Teachers, health professionals and council workers are allowed to join as long as their views do not interfere with their jobs.

A spokeswoman for Redbridge police said: “The Directorate of Professional Standards is examining the document to establish whether any MPS police officers or police staff are mentioned.

“This is to ensure that no individual is at risk as a result of this information being published and allow any potential misconduct issues to be considered in due course.”