Some of the complaints received so far about the BNP leaflet - June 04
last update: 20/04/2007
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Response from Sarah Evans, the Policy Group at the Crown Office (5 july 04) to Positive Action in Housing's Complaint to Colin Boyd Lord Advocate about incitement to racist hatred:
"The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) has received a number of complaints from members of the public and other organisations concerning the distribution and content of the BNP leaflet entitled "Asylum is making Britain Explode".
"Crown Counsel, having carefully considered this matter, concluded that the publication or distribution of this literature does not amount to a criminal offence under section 19 (1) of the public order act 1986, and therefore instructed that no criminal proceedings be taken in this instance.
"You may be aware that I issued guidelines to chief Constables - these are available on the COPFS website at www.crownoffice.co.uk - which set out governing principles and specific instructions about the investigation and reporting of racist crime by the police. COPFS is continuously working with the police to monitor compliance with the guidelines.
"I cannot comment on the reaction of individual police offices to complaints made about the BNP publication and you may wish to raise any further concerns in this regard directly with the police. However, i am aware that strathclyde police, in light of the number of complaints received from members of the public and ther organisatrions indicating that the BNP leaflet was perceived to be offensive and racist, sought instruction from the Procurator Fiscal at Glasgow about the nature, and criminality of the distribution, of this literature. The police were directed to record the details of each complaint and await Crown Counsel's instructions.
"COPFS is committed to pursuing cases fairly and consistently in the public interest and being responsive to th4 concerns of the communities; a commitment which I would wish to underline in respect of racist crime. I am satisfied that in the particular circumstances of this leaflet, the decision not to raise a prosecution is correct and we will continue to deal vigorously with racially motivated offences."
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OK so I went to Stewart Street and just said to the guy behind the desk that I wanted to make a complaint about a BNP leaflet that had come through the door at our office. Off he went to get someone else - Constable Elliot. I explained to him that I wanted to complain about the leaflet as I felt that it was inciting racial hatred - the language and stats used are misleading and the leaflet victimised a very vulnerable section of society. They said that they could do nothing as it wasn't a police matter - I should contact the BNP myself or my local MP. I said that as the leaflet would incite race hate crimes surely that would be a matter for the police. Then we were joined by another policeman - Bob Sinclair (who talked over me for most of it). He said that it was just my personal opinion and that when he had received a leaflet in his door he just put it in the bin - I should do the same. I said that that wouldn't help the problem. I again pointed out the language used and suggested (again) that it was a matter for the police - again I was told no. They said they were sorry but that they had already spoken to their Inspector (McNeil) and they couldn't do anything. I then got a pen out and asked them for their names and started noting down what they had said. Then they decided to take me a bit more seriously. They said they'd phone their HQ (media helpline I think they called it??). They were away for ages then Cst Elliot came back and told me that the Community Safety Dept at Pitt St had had some complaints. Acting chief constable Alan Barnett is liasing with the Procurator Fiscal as to whether or not there is a case to answer in terms of the BNP leaflets. He gave me the no. for the PF - 418 5826. I then asked whether the complaint that I was making would be recorded and added to those that had already been made. I was told it would not be recorded as HQ has not provided any information on how to deal with such complaints.Just to give you some feedback on my discussion with the police
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(Maryhill) a minute ago about the BNP leaflet. I was told there was nothing the police could do about it, as it was about freedom of information (- maybe meant speech?) during elections, and that political parties could basically say what they want. He said the police had not been instructed by parliament to act on this. I asked if that meant a political party would be allowed to send out leaflets advocating other illegal acts - eg child abuse - and he said that was different, as parliament dealt with that! To be fair, he was clearly supporting my view point - and said he'd complained himself to the Post Office.
Anyway, I hope other people have more luck. For info, my leaflet was delivered to North Kelvinside.
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I too was very angry when I received the leaflet which I couldn't even bare to read. I PUT IT IN AN ENVELOPE, UNSTAMPED OF COURSE, AND RETURNED IT TO THE BNP GLASGOW. I hope they had to pay the postage + £1 admin to receive it. Don't bi n them - post them back.
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Heard on Reporting Scotland this morning about your complaint to the Fiscal.
Well done. I saw that BNP clown being interviewed. I think they're insulting everyone's intelligence by saying they're not racist.
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I am really sorry that I deliberately burned the BNP leaflet rather than even put it in the rubbish. If I had known about the move to report it to the police I would have done so. If I happen across another one, I will take it into our local station and make a formal complaint. Carol
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Having just watched the BNP PPB on tv I telephoned the BBC in Glasgow to basically to let them know how outraged I was that they allowed a fascist group of lunatics to be given so much air-time and publicity. The lady who took my call was obviously very well versed in fobbing-off any irate viewers. She told me that it was basically nothing to do with the BBC and that they had a statutory duty to broadcast any " properly constituted political party's PPB, uncensored". When I pointed out to her that the BBC also had a statutory duty to uphold the UK laws against racism, she brushed me aside and told me my comments had been duly noted. So that'll be ok then?
There must be something that the decent folk of this country can do to stop the tv companies broadcasting lies, disinformation and evil propaganda. We definitely seem to have lost our moral compass somewhere along the line.**************************
I live in Shawlands and just had BNP leaflets delivered to my house > this morning, I stopped the postman who said that he didn't agree with the BNP but had to deliver the leaflets. I also explained that the CWU would support members who refused to deliver leaflets. He told me that he was from the Victoria road depot and that Asian postman had complained about delivering BNP leaflets but had been threatened with disciplinary action if they didn't deliver.
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I think in this day and age it's disgusting to allow such parties are the BNP to be in existance. They are Nazi's and fascists and in this new centuary we are a Muli-Cultural Society. These leaflets could set back the good work to stamp out Racism by decades! Every human being deserves to be treated equally!!!!!!
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My politically aware 13 year old was outraged and put it in the recycling bin, so I can't forward it on to you, but it'll be identical to others in South Lanarkshire.
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I was very angry about my children being exposed to this dangerous propaganda - but thankfully at 11 & 13 they recognise it as such!
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If anyone has the access to facts and figures to do a quick refutation of these points then we can get the leaflet to them. (please contact Kevin o'neil on k.oneil@unison.co.uk - who is working on our anti-BNP campaign.
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I work in the Possilpark area of Glasgow, and received a BNP leaflet through the post last Monday, re. the European elections. One side of the leaflet specifically targeted asylum seekers- the other was the usual 'Britain for the British' type rubbish. I would imagine they are targeting the North of Glasgow due to the asylum seeker population in the area.
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The leaflet appears to be no more than an attempt to inflame ill-informed extreme opinions. I am particularly concerned that the Post Office (if it was them) should be delivering these.
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You may have heard this already, but I stay in the Borders, and was horrified to receive a BNP leaflet in a mailshot on Saturday morning.
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On my return from work I discovered a BNP leaflet among the normal mail and I am furious and angry how the Royal Mail dares to throw these lies and nazi propaganda messages through our doors. It is absolutely outrageous.
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I live in the small village of
Carrbridge, some 25 miles south of Inverness. A BNP leaflet entitled 'Asylum is
Making Britain Explode' was in our mailbox this morning.
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We received a BNP leaflet in the office today - a bit of a cheek sending it to a human rights org don't you think? It's in the bin where it belongs.
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I received BNP literature through my door in Perth this week. It arrived along with my personal mail and party political literature for the European Elections, so I assume that it was all delivered by the Post Office. The focus of the BNP literature was asylum seekers.
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I was horrified to receive a BNP leaflet at my home which is in the Anderston area. The leaflet was linking refugee and asylum seeking with terrorist activity.
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A refugee also told me last night that flats in Royston had had BNP leaflets thro the door.
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I had a BNP European election communication last week in Haddington, East Lothian. Very nasty and I've binned it.
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They are also leafleting East Dunbartonshire area. I was appalled yesterday to receive a leaflet with BNP nonsense about asylum seekers which quite frankly could be said to insight racial hatred. It was delivered with my mail so the Post Office is obviously doing it for them, which I find outrageous.
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The Post Office, I believe, normally delivers the usual party leaflets, doesn't it? The BNP leaflet came in through my door this morning (postal delivery time) at the same time a Labour party leaflet was delivered and was simply a two sided A5 flyer, no envelope (with contact details restricted to a PO Box number.)
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I too received the offensive leaflet last week. In the Kelvin constituency office, we have had one frightened Asian constituent who found a whole pile of them on her door mat. We have also had a constituent complaining to Pauline McNeill by email that when she complained to the delivery office they told her to contact the political party of her choice to take the matter up.