h&s
15th July 2004, 08:45
The BNP is being investigated by the police for racism! (at long last!)
BNP activists admit to race crime(BBC)
British National Party activists have confessed to racially motivated crimes including an assault on an Asian in a BBC undercover documentary.
BNP member Steve Barkham told reporter Jason Gwynne how he kicked and punched a man during the 2001 Bradford riots.
The Secret Agent also shows the party's leader Nick Griffin condemning Islam as a "vicious wicked faith".
Mr Griffin accused the BBC of selective editing and said his full speech had discouraged attacks on communities.
BBC producers say the material will be handed over to the police and the Crown Prosecution Service.
Mr Gwynne spent six months infiltrating the BNP's West Yorkshire branch with the help of former local organiser Andy Sykes, who turned mole for anti-fascist group Searchlight.
In the documentary, footage recorded at a meeting in Keighley shows BNP leader Mr Griffin saying it was important to stand up and act for the party or "they (Muslims) will do for someone in your family".
"For saying that, I tell you, I will get seven years if I said that outside."
He calls Islam a "wicked, vicious faith" that "has expanded through a handful of cranky lunatics" and "is now sweeping country after country".
Another member, Stewart Williams, says he wants to "blow up" Bradford's mosques with a rocket launcher.
BNP council candidate Dave Midgley is shown saying he squirted dog faeces through the letterbox of an Asian takeaway.
In the film, Mr Barkham says he beat an Asian man during the Bradford riots.
But, he says, he was not prosecuted as his victim was unable to identify him from police photographs.
Expulsion call
A West Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: "We haven't yet seen the programme, we have spoken to the programme makers and will be investigating the claims made to identify what, if any, offences may have taken place.
"We ask anyone with further information about any of the alleged crimes to contact us."
Mr Griffin later said Mr Midgley and Mr Barkham would be expelled from the BNP.
And Mr Williams would face an internal disciplinary tribunal in connection with his comments, he added.
Mr Griffin accused the programme makers of selectively editing a speech he delivered in the film and challenged the authorities to prosecute him.
"It's still not illegal to criticise Islam", he said.
"If Mr Blunkett wants to put me on a show trial about whether we're entitled to warn about the dangers of Islam, I will be absolutely delighted."
Any jury would see the full speech, in which he states that the BNP is not targeting individuals or communities, he added.
The BBC was failing in its charter terms to represent the views of BNP supporters who now represented 5% of the electorate, claimed Mr Griffin.
Griffin's response was racist as well;
If Mr Blunkett wants to put me on a show trial about whether we're entitled to warn about the dangers of Islam, I will be absolutely delighted
Thats not all, they are also being investigated for their election leaflets (that I complained about);
BNP leaflet under investigation[U](BBC)
Claims that a BNP leaflet contained inflammatory statements which could incite racial hatred are being investigated by police.
The Race Equality Council (REC) for Gloucestershire has complained about the party's European election leaflet.
Headed "Asylum is making Britain explode", it was delivered to 30m houses before the European elections.
The BNP denies it was racist and that it is important that all political parties can air their views.
The leaflet stated that the "government is planning to build five giant new cities, each the size of Birmingham, over the next 30 years, to house over five million new immigrants".
'No debate'
It also said that "around two million illegal immigrants and asylum seekers" were pushing the benefits system and health service "to breaking point".
The Race Equality Council claims this breaches the 1986 Public Order Act.
Dr Phillip Edwards, a spokesman for the BNP, said: "There is a problem in this democracy if we are not allowed to open the debate without being thrown into jail.
"But in fact the leaflet does not carry anything about race - it is about immigration and asylum."
A spokeswoman for Gloucestershire police has confirmed the complaint is "under investigation"
Hopefully they will get what they deserve before they can stand in another election.
BNP activists admit to race crime(BBC)
British National Party activists have confessed to racially motivated crimes including an assault on an Asian in a BBC undercover documentary.
BNP member Steve Barkham told reporter Jason Gwynne how he kicked and punched a man during the 2001 Bradford riots.
The Secret Agent also shows the party's leader Nick Griffin condemning Islam as a "vicious wicked faith".
Mr Griffin accused the BBC of selective editing and said his full speech had discouraged attacks on communities.
BBC producers say the material will be handed over to the police and the Crown Prosecution Service.
Mr Gwynne spent six months infiltrating the BNP's West Yorkshire branch with the help of former local organiser Andy Sykes, who turned mole for anti-fascist group Searchlight.
In the documentary, footage recorded at a meeting in Keighley shows BNP leader Mr Griffin saying it was important to stand up and act for the party or "they (Muslims) will do for someone in your family".
"For saying that, I tell you, I will get seven years if I said that outside."
He calls Islam a "wicked, vicious faith" that "has expanded through a handful of cranky lunatics" and "is now sweeping country after country".
Another member, Stewart Williams, says he wants to "blow up" Bradford's mosques with a rocket launcher.
BNP council candidate Dave Midgley is shown saying he squirted dog faeces through the letterbox of an Asian takeaway.
In the film, Mr Barkham says he beat an Asian man during the Bradford riots.
But, he says, he was not prosecuted as his victim was unable to identify him from police photographs.
Expulsion call
A West Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: "We haven't yet seen the programme, we have spoken to the programme makers and will be investigating the claims made to identify what, if any, offences may have taken place.
"We ask anyone with further information about any of the alleged crimes to contact us."
Mr Griffin later said Mr Midgley and Mr Barkham would be expelled from the BNP.
And Mr Williams would face an internal disciplinary tribunal in connection with his comments, he added.
Mr Griffin accused the programme makers of selectively editing a speech he delivered in the film and challenged the authorities to prosecute him.
"It's still not illegal to criticise Islam", he said.
"If Mr Blunkett wants to put me on a show trial about whether we're entitled to warn about the dangers of Islam, I will be absolutely delighted."
Any jury would see the full speech, in which he states that the BNP is not targeting individuals or communities, he added.
The BBC was failing in its charter terms to represent the views of BNP supporters who now represented 5% of the electorate, claimed Mr Griffin.
Griffin's response was racist as well;
If Mr Blunkett wants to put me on a show trial about whether we're entitled to warn about the dangers of Islam, I will be absolutely delighted
Thats not all, they are also being investigated for their election leaflets (that I complained about);
BNP leaflet under investigation[U](BBC)
Claims that a BNP leaflet contained inflammatory statements which could incite racial hatred are being investigated by police.
The Race Equality Council (REC) for Gloucestershire has complained about the party's European election leaflet.
Headed "Asylum is making Britain explode", it was delivered to 30m houses before the European elections.
The BNP denies it was racist and that it is important that all political parties can air their views.
The leaflet stated that the "government is planning to build five giant new cities, each the size of Birmingham, over the next 30 years, to house over five million new immigrants".
'No debate'
It also said that "around two million illegal immigrants and asylum seekers" were pushing the benefits system and health service "to breaking point".
The Race Equality Council claims this breaches the 1986 Public Order Act.
Dr Phillip Edwards, a spokesman for the BNP, said: "There is a problem in this democracy if we are not allowed to open the debate without being thrown into jail.
"But in fact the leaflet does not carry anything about race - it is about immigration and asylum."
A spokeswoman for Gloucestershire police has confirmed the complaint is "under investigation"
Hopefully they will get what they deserve before they can stand in another election.