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BNP badge-waering policeman forced to resign
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A police officer who wore a BNP badge when he was off duty has been forced to resign, Greater Manchester Police said today.
Pc Stuart Janaway, who once saved the life of a shooting victim by administering first aid, wore the badge of the far-right party at a football match in Manchester two years ago.
His forced resignation was criticised as "pernicious Stalinism" by the British National Party (BNP) today.
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said the officer was "required to resign" after a misconduct hearing seven days ago.
Janaway was investigated by the force's professional standards branch following claims he wore an "inappropriate badge while off duty".
Terry Sweeney, acting assistant chief constable and head of the professional standards branch, said: "Item six of the Chief Constable's Order of 2004, which refers to police membership of the BNP
or other extreme organisations, makes it clear that officers are banned from being members of the BNP, Combat 18 or the National Front. This requirement extends into the private lives of police
officers and police staff.
"In addition, the regulations require that a 'member of a police force should at all times abstain from any activity which is likely to interfere with the impartial discharge of... duties, or which
is likely to give rise to the impression amongst members of the public that it may so interfere'.
"All officers and staff are aware that non-compliance of these regulations will likely result in dismissal.
"The officer failed to live up to the high standards we demand of everyone serving in the force."
BNP spokesman Simon Darby said: "We think what police officers do in their own time is up to them. We trust them to be able to do their job when they're working and operate in a fair and impartial
way.
"This is pernicious Stalinism."
He continued: "It really is bringing it home to people that we live in a Soviet-style regime. What would happen if they were wearing a Labour Party or Liberal Democrat badge at a football match?
It's appalling."
Janaway, of Irlam, Manchester, could not be reached for comment.
Bladerunner
Commented 175 weeks ago
The BNP is a legitimate political party registered with the electoral commisision, to make it a crime for a member of the police or armed forces to become a member is not only un-democratic and against all the principles of free speech and hard won freedoms we once took for granted but smacks of a totalaterian new labour regime who wish to control the way we think from the cradle to the grave.
Is it really any wonder that BNP support is rising ? my sympathies lie with pc Stuart Janaway, a good policeman lost forever to the scourge of political correctness that besets this country.