Classification: NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED

Thank you for your enquiry which has been logged under the above reference.

Under the Freedom of Information Act we are required to reply within 20 working days but given the current very high number of requests being received this may not be possible.

We will reply as soon as possible and please accept our apologies for the inconvenience any delay may cause.

Steve Grayton
Information Officer
Data Protection & Freedom of Information
Information Management
Corporate Development Department
Essex Police Headquarters
PO Box 2, Springfield, Chelmsford, CM2 6DA
Tel: 0300 333 4444 Ext 54551
Fax: 01245 452256
Email : data[Essex Police request email]
Personal email: [email address]
Website: www.essex.police.uk
Hours of work : Mon - Thurs 7:30 to 15:30
Fri 7:30 to 15:00

-----Original Message-----
From: Mark Walker [mailto:[FOI #24072 email]]
Sent: 01 December 2009 15:27
To: FOI
Subject: Freedom of Information request - BNP

Dear Sirs

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?

Yours Sincerely

Mark Walker
Solidarity Trades Union
www.solidaritytradeunion.org

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Classification: NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED

Thank you for your enquiry which has been logged under the above reference. Having completed my enquiries I am able to respond as follows:

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?

In accordance with section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA), this response serves as a formal notification of refusal of your request on the basis that Essex Police does not hold the information you seek access to.

Police Regulations only state that it is unlawful to be a member of a political party, which includes the BNP. They only specify membership as being unlawful that 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.

This is true of any such allegation being made and is not specific to the BNP, it is simply the 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 and these are designed to bring about greater public confidence.

I would mention that you have been provided with as much information as we are able to disclose on this subject. Police employee membership of any political party is a statutory bar, and there is no further information I am able to provide under FOI.

I am sorry that we unable to assist you further on this subject.

Steve Grayton
Information Officer
Data Protection & Freedom of Information
Information Management
Corporate Development Department
Essex Police Headquarters
PO Box 2, Springfield, Chelmsford, CM2 6DA
Tel: 0300 333 4444 Ext 54551
Fax: 01245 452256
Email : data[Essex Police request email]
Personal email: s <mailto:[email address]> [email address]
Website: <http://www.essex.police.uk> www.essex.police.uk
Hours of work : Mon - Thurs 7:30 to 15:30
Fri 7:30 to 15:00

If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, you have the right to ask for an internal review. Internal review requests should be submitted within two months of the date of receipt of the response to your original request and should be addressed to the Senior Information Officer at the above address.

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF

-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Grayton On Behalf Of FOI
Sent: 02 December 2009 10:07
To: 'Mark Walker'
Subject: RE: FOI request our ref. 2532 - BNP [NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED]

Classification: NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED

Thank you for your enquiry which has been logged under the above reference.

Under the Freedom of Information Act we are required to reply within 20 working days but given the current very high number of requests being received this may not be possible.

We will reply as soon as possible and please accept our apologies for the inconvenience any delay may cause.

Steve Grayton
Information Officer
Data Protection & Freedom of Information
Information Management
Corporate Development Department
Essex Police Headquarters
PO Box 2, Springfield, Chelmsford, CM2 6DA
Tel: 0300 333 4444 Ext 54551
Fax: 01245 452256
Email : data[Essex Police request email]
Personal email: [email address]
Website: <file://www.essex.police.uk> www.essex.police.uk
Hours of work : Mon - Thurs 7:30 to 15:30
Fri 7:30 to 15:00

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