BNP

Dear Mr Walker,

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2009120000633
I write in connection with your request for information which was received
by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 01/12/2009. I note you seek
access to the following information:

* "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 will now be considered in accordance with the Freedom of
Information Act 2000 (the Act). 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 the MPS 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.

Some requests may also require either full or partial transference to
another public authority in order to answer your query in the fullest
possible way. Again, you will be informed if this is the case.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet, which details your
right of complaint.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please
write or contact Katie London on telephone number 02071613907 quoting
the reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Katie London
Policy and Support Officer
COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Are you unhappy with how your request has been handled or do you think
the decision is incorrect?

You have the right to require the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to
review their decision.

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome and encouraged to
discuss the decision with the case officer that dealt with your
request.

Ask to have the decision looked at again –

The quickest and easiest way to have the decision looked at again is
to telephone the case officer that is nominated at the end of your
decision letter.

That person will be able to discuss the decision, explain any issues
and assist with any problems.

Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with the handling procedures or the decision
of the MPS made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act)
regarding access to information you can lodge a complaint with the MPS
to have the decision reviewed.

Complaints should be made in writing and addressed to:

FOI Complaint
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1SF

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 40 working days.
The Information Commissioner

After lodging a complaint with the MPS if you are still dissatisfied
with the decision you may make application to the Information
Commissioner for a decision on whether the request for information has
been dealt with in accordance with the requirements of the Act.

For information on how to make application to the Information
Commissioner please visit their website at
www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk. Alternatively, phone or write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone: 01625 545 700

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Dear Mr. Walker

Freedom of Information Request Reference No: 2009120000633

I write in connection with your request for information dated 01/12/2009
which was received by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) on 01/12/2009.
I note you seek access to the following information:

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? .

Following receipt of your request searches were conducted within the MPS
to locate information relevant to your request.

EXTENT OF SEARCHES TO LOCATE INFORMATION

To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted
at the Directorate of Human Resources.

RESULT OF SEARCHES

The searches located information relevant to your request.

DECISION

In respect of your request for:

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? .

Under the provisions of Police Regulations 2003 as amended by Police
(Amendment) Regulations 2004, no member of the police service may be a
member of the BNP or any organisation whose aims and objectives are
contrary to the MPS commitment to the promotion of race equality. If a
serving member of the MPS is found to be a member of the BNP or any
similar organisation, any potential breaches of the discipline codes will
be determined and the appropriate disciplinary action taken.

The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) is committed to full compliance with
the duty to promote race equality established in the Race Relations
(Amendment) Act 2000. The effect of this means that membership of the BNP
or any similar organisation is prohibited within the MPS in respect of
both police officers and police staff.

At the time of applying for appointment as a police officer or a member of
police staff the applicant is required to complete an application form.
The application form contains a declaration which the applicant is
required to sign and part of that declaration states the following:

"I must not be or have ever been, a member of the British National Party
or similar organisation whose aims, objectives or pronouncements may
contradict the duty to promote race equality."

If during any recruitment process it is identified that the applicant is
or has been a member of the BNP or similar organisation, the application
is terminated. Please see below the attached link to the MPS Recruitment
and Selection policy.

http://www.met.police.uk/foi/pdfs/polici...

In addition if it becomes apparent that a serving member of the MPS is a
member of the BNP or similar organisation they would be subject to formal
disciplinary action.

The current Police Staff Discipline Policy prohibits promotion or the
participation in the activities of any organisation which is likely to
undermine staff or public confidence in the commitment of an individual to
observe the principles of the Equality Policy. The Discipline Policy does
not specifically name any organisations. As part of the current
discipline review the wording will be more explicit in prohibiting
membership of such organisations some of which, e.g. the BNP, are
specifically named in the policy.

As stated above, no member of the police service may be a member of the
BNP or any organisation whose aims and objectives are incompatible with
the MPS commitment to the promotion of race equality. Although it is only
membership of the BNP that is regulated, this does not mean that a member
of the service may not commit other discipline offences, dependant on the
circumstances, by taking part in any of the following activities:
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

These would be treated on a case by case basis and the circumstances fully
investigated if it was brought to the attention of the service as being
potentially inappropriate. Staff take up employment with the police
service fully aware that there may be certain restrictions placed on their
private lives which are designed to bring about greater public confidence
and trust in the police service.

The MPS expects its staff to behave professionally, ethically and with the
utmost of integrity at all times. Any instance where the conduct of our
staff brings the MPS into disrepute is treated extremely seriously in line
with MPS policy.

COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Your attention is drawn to the attached sheet which details your right of
complaint.

Should you have any further enquiries concerning this matter, please write
or contact Carol Conway on telephone number 0207 230 5192 quoting the
reference number above.

Yours sincerely

Carol Conway
Case Manager
COMPLAINT RIGHTS

Are you unhappy with how your request has been handled or do you think the
decision is incorrect?

You have the right to require the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) to
review their decision.

Prior to lodging a formal complaint you are welcome and encouraged to
discuss the decision with the case officer that dealt with your request.

Ask to have the decision looked at again ***

The quickest and easiest way to have the decision looked at again is to
telephone the case officer that is nominated at the end of your decision
letter.

That person will be able to discuss the decision, explain any issues and
assist with any problems.

Complaint

If you are dissatisfied with the handling procedures or the decision of
the MPS made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) regarding
access to information you can lodge a complaint with the MPS to have the
decision reviewed.

Complaints should be made in writing and addressed to:

FOI Complaints
Public Access Office
PO Box 57192
London
SW6 1TR

In all possible circumstances the MPS will aim to respond to your
complaint within 40 working days.
The Information Commissioner

After lodging a complaint with the MPS if you are still dissatisfied with
the decision you may make application to the Information Commissioner for
a decision on whether the request for information has been dealt with in
accordance with the requirements of the Act.

For information on how to make application to the Information Commissioner
please visit their website at www.informationcommissioner.gov.uk.
Alternatively, phone or write to:

Information Commissioner's Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Phone: 01625 545 700

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