'Blunkett bobby' suspended over 'Nazi salutes and goose-stepping'

A police community support officer has been suspended after colleagues accused him of goose-stepping about at work and making Nazi salutes.

PCSO Paul Ryan has been ordered to stay at home after allegedly impersonating Adolf Hitler while on duty.

The claims are now being investigated by the Metropolitan Police.

Ryan is alleged to have begun goose-stepping and making Nazi salutes in the North London office of the Swiss Cottage Safer Neighbourhoods Team during a conversation about Germans last month, Met sources said.

The controversial volunteer officer was previously removed from the Kentish Town team for suggesting to a black colleague that there was nothing wrong in voting for the far-Right British National Party, it is understood.

The Community Security Trust, a charity guarding against anti-semitism in the UK, said the Met had been right to act.

Spokesman Mark Gardener said: 'Obviously we would thank the police for their prompt action, and voice extreme concern at the suitability of this police officer.

'This kind of action would cause offence, not only to Jewish people, but many others as well.

'We would be extremely concerned at any police officer making fun of Nazism.'

Swiss Cottage Councillor Don Williams said: 'This is only an allegation, so it has to be investigated and no one is proven guilty.

'Police officers should follow guidelines for their behaviour and there should be clear punishments if they break that.

'I think police officers are individuals civilians look to behave well and not act in a way which is prejudiced to other people of any colour, religion or gender.'

But Trudy Gold, chief executive of the London Jewish Cultural Centre, cautioned against making 'politically correct' assumptions about the alleged incident.

She said: 'It all depends on the context. If it was meant as humour, it is probably in bad taste - but is Monty Python funny? Is Mel Brooks funny when he does the dancing and singing Hitlers in The Producers?

'It comes down to the question of whether we can make fun of evil.'

She added: 'It is a difficult area but I wouldn't want to condemn him as evil for making a Hitler salute until we know the context - if he is a card-carrying member of the BNP, for example.'

A Camden police spokesman said Ryan was suspended on August 5 after an allegation of misconduct at work on July 24.

He said: 'The alleged incident occurred in police premises not accessible to the public.

'All such allegations are taken very seriously and an internal investigation has been launched.

'It would be inappropriate to comment any further at this stage.'