RACISTS and bigots need not apply - that's the message about to be released by Dorset Fire and Rescue Service as they get tough on race issues.

Chief Fire Officer Martin Chapman is urging the Fire Authority to approve a joint statement dissuading members of the British National Party from applying for jobs.

It concludes: "There is no place for racists or bigots within Dorset Fire and Rescue Service."

Chief fire officer Martin Chapman states, in a report to go before members on Monday: "Membership of the BNP is not itself unlawful, but its core values are considered to be incompatible with those of the fire authority and the role of the fire and rescue service."

And though the fire service is covered by different regulations, they hope the government will legislate to allow them to take the same hard-line approach as the police. Police officers are banned from playing any active part in politics and can't be members of the BNP, Combat 18 or the National Front. Failure to comply results in "disciplinary action".

Mr Chapman suggests the following statement be made by the fire authority: "Current legal advice indicates that it is not yet possible to dismiss an employee for being a member of the BNP.

"However, our position is clear. Anyone holding and expressing the views and opinions of the BNP would not be capable of meeting our core values and the range of personal qualities and attributes that we require of our employees.

"We are working to ensure that all those employed by Dorset Fire and Rescue Service aspire to our values and have the personal qualities and attributes that allow us to work effectively with all sections of our community.

"We recognise, however, that the employment practices of the past may occasionally have allowed those holding such views to have passed the historic recruitment standards.

"Our position is again clear. We will not hesitate to act against unlawful, unfairly discriminatory or other unacceptable behaviour by employees, whether they are BNP members or not."

Bournemouth BNP organiser Barry Bennett branded the statement: "nonsense." He added: "They are taking away the basic UN-protected rights from British people who want to be members of the BNP."

Last year the Daily Echo told the story of Ian Richard Johnson, a retained firefighter from Brockenhurst who stood as a BNP candidate in the election. He has since retired but told the Echo yesterday this week: "I always did the job to the best of my ability.

"My political beliefs didn't come into it."

First published: October 22