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Police constable named in BNP list is back on the beat
Martin Bentham, Home Affairs Editor29.01.09
A POLICE officer who was named on a leaked list of BNP members is returning to work.
Joe Cutting, a constable in Southwark, was suspended in November after he featured on a list of 12,000 members published on the internet.
He is now being allowed to return after an internal Metropolitan police investigation found there was no evidence to justify sacking him.
The force said Pc Cutting, who was due back on the beat this week, had been "exonerated" by the inquiry, but declined to explain how his name had come to appear on the BNP membership list.
The decision will raise new concerns about alleged racism within the force following a spate of discrimination claims in recent months and allegations from the National Black Police Association of continuing prejudice.
It will also present an immediate challenge for the new Met Commissioner, Sir Paul Stephenson, who was appointed yesterday.
Some of Pc Cutting's fellow officers were reported to have had serious concerns about his return to duty. It is not known if Sir Paul was informed of the decision taken by the Met's directorate of professional standards, which is headed by Commander Moir Stewart. Pc Cutting appeared on the BNP list with a Met volunteer special constable.
Fellow officers are said to have marched Pc Cutting out of Southwark police station after stripping him of his warrant card.
It is understood that at least one disciplinary hearing was held at which witnesses for Pc Cutting, who has been in the Met for about four years, managed to convince investigators that he was not involved with the far-Right BNP. One unconfirmed explanation that is thought to have been offered is that his name was added to the membership list after he wrote a cheque on behalf of another person.
The Met confirmed that Pc Cutting had been cleared to return to work and said that a full investigation had found "no evidence to prove" that he was a member of the BNP.
A spokesman added that the matter had also been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
In a statement, the Met added: "On 21 November 2008 two serving Metropolitan police officers were suspended following the publication, on the internet, of a membership list for the British National Party. One of these officers was a full-time police constable and the other a volunteer special police constable.
"The Metropolitan Police's Directorate of Professional Standards commenced an investigation into this matter. Following this investigation both officers have been exonerated and are returning to full duties with immediate effect."
Police officers are banned under the legally-binding 2003 Police Regulations from membership of the BNP, the National Front and Combat 18.
They are also prohibited from engaging in activity which is deemed "likely to interfere with the impartial discharge of their police duties".
A separate policy introduced by the Association of Chief Police Officers in 2004 also states that officers cannot be members of the BNP on the grounds that this would conflict with their duty to promote racial equality.
The new controversy follows a series of high-profile discrimination claims against the Met from senior Asian officers, including the former Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur.
His claim, which was strongly denied by the Met and former Commissioner Sir Ian Blair, was settled out of court with no admission of liability, while a second, equally prominent case involving Met Commander Shabir Hussain, in which he claimed that there was a "golden circle" of white officers in the force, was ultimately rejected by a tribunal as unfounded.
Despite this, the National Black Police Association last year called for potential ethnic minority recruits to boycott the force, claiming that it was racist and that senior managers were not tackling the problem seriously.
Supporters point out that the Met has significantly increased the number of ethnic minority recruits entering the force and now has one of the best records in the country for improving diversity.
Investigations into other names on the leaked BNP membership list have suggested that some were wrongly included with the total number of more than 12,000 individuals listed on the document thought to be considerably higher than the party's actual membership.
Reader views (53)
Was the PC in the BNP or not?
If not then leave him alone.
- Andy Rowntree, Southport
He should be allowed back to work, when you can name the Devil you can avoid the Devil as they say. Or keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
As for the BNP being a legitimate politcal party, well that is the best laugh I have had all week, tell me it again, I need cheering up!
- Rosusa Mansuran, Brighton, UK
Back in the 1970's, I was a young conservative but told that I was fascist by a couple of beared, sandle-wearing, why ?
Because I wanted the UK to pull out of Europe, because I wanted immigration to stop and because I wanted to see British jobs for British workers.
What goes around - comes around !
- Kathy Doyle, London
I am astonished that this ever happened in the first place! What has happened to Britain that someone cannot be a member of a legal organisation? You're crazy, but having said that, what happens in UK gradually filters down to us and we copy it....God help us.
- James Wells, Perth, Australia
The ban on BNP members serving in the Police has yet to be tested in the Courts. It seems to me that it contravenes Human Rights legislation and Treaty obligations. I don't see that individual members of the BNP can be blamed for the institutional racism within the Police Force. Many people separate their work and personal beliefs. They should only be disciplined if they are guilty of actual misconduct. I wonder if they are being used as a figleaf - "we are not Racist, see how we pick on one or two BNP members".
- Patrick Harrington, Edinburgh, UK
I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.
Voltaire (1694 - 1778)
Unless you belong to the B.N.P!
GERONIMO
- Geronimo, LONDON MIDDLESEX
At least we know there is ONE HONEST COPPER ON THE BEAT
- Eddie, Essex
Let's be clear, if he was found to be an active member of the BNP he would NOT have been allowed back in the force, and rightly so.
People that join the BNP subscribe to racism, it's a statement they make, and the police force is no place for declared racists.
- Prj45, London
Good he has a right to vote for whom he want's, this is supposed to be a democratic country.
- Anne,, Devon
can we now have a list of those supporting and making donations to terrorist organisations. it's a question of security and safety. no one wants to know their neighbour supports terrorists
- Beljamine, uk
yeah and the Nazis were a legal party too. that didn't make them legitimate in moral terms. The people who think is is alright to belong to the BNP are just scum
- Kerry, purley
A police officer in the BNP...what a disgrace this is outragous, how dare they be a member of a legally elected party ...unlike the labours Gorden who was never elected
- Richard, LONDON
What Party do all the others vote for ??
- David,Chertsey, Chertsey.UK.
The BNP is just as legal as the Labour Party so that is as far as this matter should go.
- Vince Klimas, London
As a black person living in London I don't have a problem with the fact that this officer has been allowed to continue his duties. It is my view that we need as many good police as we can get on our streets. But, I would ask those of you who think that this was just some sort of 'PC' excercise to ask yourself certain questions.
How would you feel if one of your family was murdered in the street and the police conducted a less than proffessianl investigation because you and your family member was not white?
How would you feel if everytime you got into your car to drive anywhere, you were stopped by police and questioned about how you got your car and if the car was really yours because you were not white?
What if one of your family was shot by the police because they resembled some one else who was not white?
Racism cannot be ignored, it is here in every part of our society, if there was no racism there would be no need for a 'Black Police Association', but, while there is still racism there should be as many 'tools' as possible to combat it.
- Orj, London
It isn't a crime to belong to the BNP so I see no reason why the policeman shouldn't be at work. You have either to ban the BNP (and risk pushing it underground) or you have to stop being prejudiced against its followers. Otherwise you're guilty of behaving the same as they do!
- Roz, Chamonix, France
Interesting debate going on here ... we need Robocop... problem solved
- Sanjay, Hounslow, UK
The BNP are a legitimate political Party so why has the Police Service singled out the BNP to deny membership to serving officers? I suspect it has more to do with the hysterics of the Black Police Association who the top brass are scared of offending- let`s hope that the new Commissioner has more guts than his predecessor!
Soon it will be illegal to be a Policeman unless you are a card carrying member of New Labour.
- Charles, Stanmore. London
Bob of Switzerland he can't sue his fellow officers he's neither black nor asian
- Linda, italy
@ Kevin T:
"The BNP's success over the last 12 years (1 local councillor in 1997, 100 in 2008) has been almost entirely a reaction to the idiotic policies of the Labour party."
And on that basis, what are the odds on the first BNP MP at Westminster after the next General Election?
Dagenham East & Bradford spring immediately to mind...
FB
- Faceless Bureaucrat, Whitehall
How dare this man have a brain that hasn't been washed by today's media. And how dare he use it. Outrageous.
- John Smith, London , England
The presumption being made about the BNP is that it is racist and the Labour Party isn’t.
All political parties should be banned from taking part in elections. By their very nature they are anti democratic and therefore against the citizens of the UK. The people should choose the candidate who is to stand in elections and then vote for the one that will represent them in parliament. Political parties are against this.
- Ian, Reading, England
common sense prevails - at the same time they should also shut down the clearly discrimnatory NBPA
- Simon Bucknell, enfield
National Black Police Association? I don't think we have a National White Police Association - rather racist really!
- Kfc, Bishop's Stortford, UK
"Police have a difficult job without questions being raised of their impartiality." Harry, London.
I take it then Harry you are in agreement with his reinstatement.
What an absurd and ghastly nonsense this PR & PC exercise has been, we have just seen played out the same kind of of ignorant intolerance that was better suited to Germany in the thirties and The Soviet Union during 1920 - 1991.
Most hearbreaking and worrying is that the perpetrators have been dressed in their finest sanctimoniousness and unaware of just how smelly and sweat stained their cloak of respectability has really been.
- Frank H., London.
"Fellow officers are said to have marched Pc Cutting out of Southwark police station after stripping him of his warrant card."
What delightful colleagues this PC has, so based on nothing more than the contents of a dubious Excel file his fellow officers assaulted him. Perhaps he can have them charged for that assault?
No doubt they were more of NuLab's placement drones who spend their day on diversity issues while stabbings, muggins, burglaries and drug dealing go on all around them.
Poor bloke, sue them for every penny, the pitchfork wielding vigilantes.
- Bob, Gen Switzerland
Whether or not this particular officer was, in fact, a member of the BNP is not really the point. Either the BNP are a legitimate, non-proscribed political party or they are not; if they are a legitimate political party then a police officer should be as free to be a member as anyone else. I cannot be right that the officer could quite properly vote for the BNP yet not join the party.
- Helen, London, UK
He has been through a police enquiry and no grounds to fire have been found. I thought we had an innocent until proved guilty system. He has not been found guilty of the necessary criteria by a panel so of course he should get his job back.
- Bh, London
Why do the police try and hound out of work an officer who may have been a member of the 4th. largest political party in Britain. At the same time it states that it has Muslin staff who are engaged in possible terror plots, and are only prepared to move them to less sensitive posts.
- Malcom Brown, Newcastle. England.
I hope appropriate action has been taken against those 'colleagues' who performed the modern day equivalent of a lynch mob on PC Cutting. Perhaps they need to grow up and get some life experience and let's hope none ever experience being falsely/wrongly accused in their careers. This is still a free country and although it is none of our business who votes for who, the BNP is a legal political party and PC Cutting has been fully investigated. Had there been a shred of evidence to substantiate the allegation he would have been sacked. I hope he is allowed to return to work and his 'colleagues' support him in this.
- Ranter, Maidstone, UK
Clear and evident racism = National Black Police Association
- Paddy Mac, Kilburn, London UK
Good for the person concerned, why should he not be back in his job. Totally agree this is suppose to be a free country but at times does not seem to be. Peoples political beliefs should have no bearing on the work they do. The BNP are there and whilst I do not agree with everything they are the voice for the people who are afraid to speak out but what they are probably thinking
- Helen, London
i agree with ethan i'm a loabur aprty member and police officer and if a bnp member was sacked for being in the police adn proving he wasn't racist i would feel my duty to resing my labour membership in discust,if police officers aren't allowed to be mebers of political parties they should be give the right to withdraw their labour like other members of unions in other jobs are
- John, london uk
I would rather have a Constable, who is a member of the BNP, than a Chief Constable who is a gopher to the Labour Government.
We have seen the result.
- Richard Partridge, Eaton Bishop UK
What every comment here seems to have overlooked is that the police found him not to be a member of the BNP.
- Tom, Watford (UK)
We apparently live in a free country as long as we do as we are told.
Happy he has his job back.
- Serox, London
Good he has his job back - commonsense prevails. He is entitled to be a supporter of any Party - we do live in a free country.
- Theresa, Cardiff , Wales
It is refreshing to read so many comments with common sense. I for one am delighted he is back on duty why can’t he support the BNP? What is the issue here?? It is a political party like Labour Lib Dems etc. They just say what many of us believe and wish that we had the nerve to say it.
- L Parker, london
The bottom line is that he knew that he should have disclosed his affiliation and did not. I assume he is not stupid and therefore concealed this intentionally.
Police have a difficult job without questions being raised of their impartiality.
- Harry, London
Z Malik, I understand your point of view and I wouldn't personally vote BNP. However I know people well who do support the party and they are no more racist than anyone else I know.
The BNP's success over the last 12 years (1 local councillor in 1997, 100 in 2008) has been almost entirely a reaction to the idiotic policies of the Labour party. Crazy, unsustainable levels of mass immigration; multiculturalism that has ghettoised parts of the country; handing over this country's democratic powers to the EU.
It is possible to be strongly against these things, to the point of joining a party that stands against them, without disliking people who have different coloured skin. That is racism. If there was evidence this copper treated black people differently then by all means, sack him.
Personally I don't think the BNP should become the rallying party for people fed up with Labour. I know plenty of people who aren't white and share the same frustrations and who naturally feel excluded by the BNP. Unfortunately all the main parties either support these policies or are too paralysed by political correctness to speak out. UKIP are (sadly) a joke. So I find it hard to blame people who do vote for them.
- Kevin T, Beckenham, Kent
Is there any evidence he has ever acted in a racist manner whilst carrying out his duty as a policeman? I assume not. Therefore what does it matter whether he's a member of the BNP?
- Derek, London
Policemen are just glorified traffic wardens with part time jobs as referees, so who cares what they do. They are utterly pointless these days and are a hidderance to most people rather than a help.
- John Entwistle, Hertford
He should never have been suspended in the first place.
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx
Good for him sick and tired of the Biased media and politically left wing motivated bullies.
- Edwina, croydon
You all seem to be missing the point.
The Police have been accussed of institutionalised racisim, so having police officers who might be members of the BNP does not exactly help their cause or reputation.
Also if you have racist views and are a police officer you are obviously going to make decisions based on them.
Hardly seems fair for the people on the receiving end of their actions.
- Z. Malik, London
I am glad this PC is back on the beat, I bet he is a lot more impartial than many other officers.
- Helen, norwich
No-one who supports Labour, Liberal or Tory are ever rascist then!
- Sue, Orpington, Kent
What difference does it make if he is a BNP member or not, for goodness sake, as long as he is doing his job properly who cares, after all, the BNP are a legitamate party as are the Conservatives.
Would there be the same fuss if he was a member of the Conservative party and a recist, no of course not.
This country is totally pathetic now, the laughing stock of the rest of the world due to liberal lefty fools who have been dictating the agenda since Nu Labour came to power, the sooner that lot are consigned to history the sooner we can all get back to normality.
- Ian Johnson, Brockenhurst, England.
Good for him, the Police should be prosecuted under the Human Rights Act as everyone has a right to political and religious beliefs.
- P Staker, London
this man's politics are his own affair.nobody gets sacked from the police for advertising labour on the sides of their cars at the last election.
- Albert Hall, Carshalton, England
About time we banned PC's from being members of crackpot political parties. Such as the Labour party......
I trust the Police will be police first and keep their opinions, feelings, sexual preferences, ethnic origins etc to themselves. IMO it's irrelevant to their function.
If my house is burgled it takes long enough to get any officer, without waiting for a slightly husky, straight, welsh, likes English mustard, long walks in the countryside, Aquarius, likes puppy dogs and fast thirsty V8 cars, doesn't like blackcurrants officer.
- Ethan, UK
Good! The BNP is NOT a proscribed organisation, it is a legitimately constituted political party to which anyone has as much right to membership as they do to any other.
Personally I do not subscribe to much of their manifesto, so I haven't joined them and don't vote for them!
That is how democracy works, not by prohibition and political censorship.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster
Good for him. He is a BNP supporter just like some people are Tories and others follow the labour government. You can not discriminate anyone because of their political bias.
- Joanna Carling, london
