BNP

Dear Mr Walker

Reference No: RFI2009000826

Thank you for your request for information dated 02/12/2009 concerning
restrictions placed on members of Thames Valley Police Force relating to
the British National Party.

This request will be dealt with under the terms of the Freedom of
Information Act 2000.

Your request will now be considered and you will receive a response within
the statutory timescale of 20 working days as defined by the Act, subject
to the information not being exempt or containing a reference to a third
party. In some circumstances Thames Valley Police may be unable to achieve
this deadline. If this is likely you will be informed and given a revised
time-scale at the earliest opportunity.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in
Thames Valley Police.

Yours sincerely,

Jane Shields

Freedom of Information Administrator

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Dear Mr Walker

Reference No: RFI2009000826

Thank you for your request for information dated 02/12/2009 which for
clarity I repeat below.

Please provide the following information under the Freedom of Information
Act 2000.

There are restrictions placed on those working in the Police Force
regarding membership of the British National Party. Does your force
have any restrictions on a member of your Police Force:-

a) Donating to the British National Party?

b) Subscribing to a British National Party publication?

c) Purchasing goods from the British National Party?

d) Signing a petition in favour of the British National Party?

e) Signing a nomination form for a British National Party candidate?

Your request for information has now been considered. Thames Valley
Police does not hold any information relevant to your request. Police
Regulations only state that it is unlawful to be a member of a political
party, which includes the BNP. It is only membership that is regulated.
This does not mean that a member of the service may not commit other
discipline offences, such as discreditable conduct, dependant on the
circumstances, by taking part in any of the above activities. This would
be treated on a case by case basis and the circumstances fully
investigated if it was brought to the attention of the force as being
potentially inappropriate. But this is true of any such allegation being
made and is not specific to the BNP; it is simply standards of
professional behaviour that all employees have to adhere to. Staff take
up employment with the police service fully aware that there may be
certain restrictions placed on their private lives, these are designed to
bring about greater public confidence and are based on best practice drawn
from ACAS and represents a culture of continuous learning and development.

We note from our records that you have made three requests in quick
succession on this subject and been provided with as much information as
we are able to disclose. Any future requests will be considered under
Section 14 (Vexatious or Repeated Requests) of the Freedom of Information
Act 2000.

Please contact me quoting the above reference number if you would like to
discuss this matter further and may I take this opportunity to thank you
for your interest in Thames Valley Police.

Yours sincerely,

M Hopgood

Freedom of Information Officer

0845 8 505 505

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