Newcastle Chronicle: Tyneside BNP face prosecution over race hate leaflets
An ‘incitement to race hate probe’ is being undertaken by police in the Tyne area of the North East after the BNP posts ‘race hate’ election leaflets through resident’s doors. Information, part of the British National Party drive to elect Jennifer Agnew, Andrew Harris and Dr Alan Patterson to the European Parliament on 10th June 2004, is described by police as a ‘false prospectus’.
“…Chief Supt Tim Shilston, head of Northumbria Police’s community safety department, said: “We are taking advice from the CPS on the legality of certain BNP literature, which is untruthful about the support available to asylum seekers.
“The leaflets are packed with inaccuracies, the effect of which is to raise community tensions on the back of what is a false prospectus.”
“The Newcastle Patriot Election Special, which claims to be a BNP publication, states that asylum seekers are given free mobile phones and even cheques to buy cars.”
Chief Supt Shilston stressed that asylum seekers do not get free mobile phones or benefits to buy cars.
The Evening Chronicle quotes the officer: ‘…”Nor do they jump the queue for social housing which would otherwise be available to UK nationals.”
Police say asylum seekers are housed under separate arrangements, funded and administered centrally by the Home Office.
Chief Supt Shilston added the presence of asylum seekers does not slow down the process by which UK nationals can access social housing on a priority basis.
He said: “Far from getting enhanced benefits asylum seekers receive only 70% of the Income Support paid to UK nationals.
“The danger is that the deliberate and cynical spreading of such myths will lead to resentment, increased community tension and possibly the criminal targeting of vulnerable groups.
“It is for that reason that Northumbria Police feels the need to publicly put the record straight.”…’