PC sacked for wearin BNP badge (off duty). Wrong?

Question

PC sacked for wearin BNP badge (off duty). Wrong?

Answer 1

I won't brand you a racist don't worry - I too am adult enough to be able to acknowledge the BNP's presence as a registered political party; they even fielded a candidate where I live and, sadly, he did rather well and although was not elected, got more votes than Lib Dem and Green. I believe his popularity was because the industrial town where I live has employed vast numbers of eastern europeans to do work in the factorys, and it's been seen as "coming over here taking our jobs" (despite most of the BNP voters being on the dole!) The BNP has also vowed to reinroduce weekly bin collections and a few other non-race related policies. I'm no supporter of them but I wouldn't necessarily brand someone who does support them as a racist without looking at their motives.



That said, I believe that the officer in question showed gross lack of judgement by wearing the badge. If a police officer is to be seen as impartial, treating all areas of the community equally which is part of their role, they can't be seen in public, off duty or otherwise, supporting a political party that might compromise those values. As far as I know, the other political parties do not have agendas that could be seen as racist (although put under scrutiny I imagine there are) but the BNP does have agendas that discriminates against large sections of society. At top of the BNP's manifesto, is quite clearly aims to deport non-British citizens. You could say that the SNP is the same but I bet their police officers are allowed to wear SNP badges, but that's another debate!



So I agree with what you say but I can see the Professional Standards Branch's point of view too, and why the officer was dismissed.

Answer 2

Much as I loathe the BNP, I'm uncomfortable with this.



I can see both sides. Given that the BNP is a racist organisation, it seems difficult to imagine how a police officer can discharge his duties fairly across all members of the community while supporting the white supremacist aims of the BNP.



However, as has been pointed out, the BNP is a legally constituted political party which works within the law. Police officers are not barred from activity within the mainstream parties, so it seems unreasonable to make similar reference to the BNP.



Perhaps to maintain political impartiality, police officers should be banned form any political activity, within any party?



But, the bottom line is that fairly, or unfairly, police officers have a contract banning BNP membership. This officer knew this and continued his support. He has only himself to blame.

Answer 3

Well, there you go. Irrespective of any moral or personal opinion - the contract of employment he signed up to precluded any membership of the BNP - therefore for him to wear a badge is just plain stupid.



Everyone knows that the majority of the police force is right wing but to be a open supporter of the BNP in my view would be intollerable and it would be seen by other impressionable people as a signal that the BNP are a legitimate, responsible political choice other than the ridiculous one trick ponies that they are. I wonder what their solution to the economic crisis would be hahahah! "It's all the f*ucking P*akis fault - send em all home and we'll be sorted..."



Whatever your viewpoint - for him to wear a badge which he would know to be inflamatory was just plain stupid and yes, of course it's right he was given the sack.

Answer 4

He was sacked because he supports a political party which is racist and as a Police Officer you are to be 100% non racist.



Unfortunately wearing that badge he is making a claim that he is not non racist but in actual fact racist.



Yes it can be argued that his political beliefs have nothing to do with his job but when he is declaring the "right of white people" who can trust what he says when he's saying that this black guy he's just arrested for shop lifting is the honest truth.

Answer 5

ALL taxpayers pay the police's wages



therefore they should serve ALL taxpayers, not just white ones



the BNP are a racist party and want britain to be all white



therefore you cannot have policemen who are either racist or seen to be promoting racist organisations - hence Item six of the Chief Constable's Order of 2004



if he was stupid enough to wear the badge, it's probably a good thing that he no longer has policeman powers anymore



it's easy for haydn as a white person to say that



i wonder would he be saying that if he was black



i doubt it

Answer 6

The BNP, like C18 and the NF, is a fascist party and as such is dedicated to the overthrow of our current system of government and laws. You remember them, the things the police are supposed to uphold? BNP membership is incompatible with being a police officer and was against this guy's Force's rules. Serves the git right.

Answer 7

He knew the Rules and Regulations, but sacking him was a bit heavy handed.

Answer 8

police are suppose to be apolitical and BNP are extreme in their politics so police are not allow to support them because they might need to prosecute them if and when they carry out their policies on immigrants

Answer 9

you have to ask your self what would of happened if he was wearing a labour party badge........then you'll have your answer. we do not have democracy under the labour party. this is a dictatorship in every sense of the word.

Answer 10

As a preamble to my answer I almost feel obliged to say I have never voted for the BNP and can never envisage doing so .. that should not even be necessary but in these political correct days it is often difficult to hold honest views about a matter or be open minded without feeling one has to defend a standpoint .. so here goes.



On the basis the BNP is a lawful, recognised organisation, that the officer was off duty, that he was not participating in any political demonstration or similar I do not feel he should have been required to resign. I say this much on the basis that 'whilst I dislike what you say as long as it is not unlawful I defend your right to say it'.



I very much doubt that the Chief Constables force orders are even legal in themselves and could well be struck down as 'ultra vires' if a legal challlenge was mounted against them, at least as far as actual membership of the BNP itself is concerned. Banning membership seems a very slippery slope on the way to saying who a police officer can or can't support politically or vote for. Additionally the orders came into being long after the officer joined the force so the arguements about it being a specific term of employment doesn't come into it.



What has happened is the force has chosen to hold an inquiry and required the officer to resign. this on the police scale of punishments is one down from actually dismissing him themsleves. The officer has the right of appeal to the Home Secretary and I hope and expect he may do so. The officer could also take this to the European courts.



As others have pointed out, some of the BNP policies, weekly bin collections etc. are very live, local, man in the street issues, could it be that a police officer in the BNP with views and training of fairness just might make the BNP more credible and less racist ? No one appears to have accused or found the officer to actually be racist so why make that presumption in the absence of evidence. Is he not innocent until proven guilty which is what you expect of the man himself ?



I do declare an interest in this as a retd member of a UK police force ..others must judge the impartiality or fairness of my A. I assume the facts are as reported and have no inside information about the incident.

Answer 11

it's disgracful that he was sacked for this ,if indeed this is the reason he lost his job,I am sure he has a very strong case for wrongful dismissal