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BNP - Our members are being harassed
MEMBERS of the BNP 'outed' across the borough have become victims of abusive phone calls and threats, according to a local party spokesman.
Martin Vaughan, the North East England spokesman for the far right party, said several members in South Tyneside have been targeted since the 13,500-strong national list was leaked earlier this week.
And today he urged anyone who received an abusive call to contact the police and report it as a criminal matter.
He said: "It's no one's fault that this list became public, but now some groups are using it to harass and intimidate our members.
"A privacy law has been broken here, which means that people across South Tyneside have had their confidentiality breached.
"Whatever people think of our party, our members should be able to expect that their political affiliations are kept private.
"Anyone who receives one of these despicable calls should contact the police at the earliest opportunity."
The list, which includes names, addresses and occupations, included 72 names from South Tyneside.
When contacted by the Gazette, he claimed he was not a member of the party and "just visited a meeting."
Former Progressive councillor, Paul Taylor, was also on the list.
Speaking yesterday, he said: "Hundreds of people in South Tyneside voted for the BNP at the last election, so anyone whose name appears on this list shouldn't be ashamed.
"I received a letter from the party warning me that the membership list had been leaked and I think it's wrong that it's now in the public domain, but what can you do?"
Every police force in Britain has scoured the list for serving officers, who will face disciplinary action if found to be BNP members.
The prison service and other public bodies are also looking at the list.
The BNP leader, Nick Griffin, claimed today that he knew the identity of the person who published the list.
He described him as a "hard-liner" senior employee who left the party last year.
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Weather for South Shields
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -2 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light rain
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