ANGRY fire officers have condemned the Dorset Fire Authority for "missing a golden opportunity" to ban British National Party members from their ranks.

The Fire Brigades Union claims authority members bowed to BNP bullying tactics and in doing so, had "failed" in their lawful duty to protect staff and the public under Race Relations legislation.

The row erupted after authority members unanimously rejected a proposed statement from Chief Fire Officer Martin Chapman, which sought to dissuade BNP members from applying for jobs.

The statement said that anyone holding the views of the BNP would not be capable of meeting Dorset Fire's core values.

But Cllr David Fox, chair of the Fire Authority, said such a statement was "totally unnecessary".

"We have a race equality scheme which clearly sets out what we believe in and our guidelines," he said. It just seemed totally unnecessary and provocative to pick out the BNP as an undesirable organisation."

But John Drake, regional officer for the FBU in the South West, said they were shocked by the authority's stance.

"Dorset Fire Authority have not only missed a golden opportunity to come to a principled and morally correct decision they have also been bullied by the jackboots of the BNP," he said.

And FBU Regional Secretary Tam McFarlane said: "The message that this decision has sent to minority groups and communities within Dorset is appalling."

But Mr Chapman said he was not disappointed with the authority's decision and said the authority's race equality scheme would make their aims and objectives plain.

The proposed statement had attracted fierce criticism from human rights organisation Law and Liberty and from Bournemouth BNP.

Gerald Hartup, of Law and Liberty, said in an e-mail to authority members: "Mr Chapman's behaviour appears to be in gross violation of the authority's equal opportunities policy."

And Bournemouth BNP organiser Barry Bennett said: "Members, supporters and voters of the BNP in Dorset and across Britain recognise this Stalinist proposal as being discriminatory and unacceptable behaviour by politically motivated individuals intent on denying us dignity and respect."