BNP say members list leakers face prison

LONDON (Reuters) - Dissident former British National Party executives suspected of leaking the far-right organisation's membership on the Internet risk going to prison, the party leader Nick Griffin said on Wednesday.

"The little group of people responsible for publishing this list all have against them a High Court order for them not to reveal it," Griffin told BBC radio.

"If we are able to prove it's one of them, they will go to prison -- it's as simple as that."

The party has complained to police about the publication and is seeking legal advice.

The BBC said the list includes serving and former police officers, teachers and soldiers.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission said it had been contacted by Merseyside Police because one of its officers had appeared on the list. The IPCC said the issue was a matter for the force to investigate.

Police have been prohibited since 2004 from promoting the BNP or being a member of the party.

"This is because such membership would be incompatible with our duty to promote equality under the Race Relations Amendment Act and would damage the confidence of minority communities," said Greater Manchester Police Chief Constable Peter Fahy.

The BNP list contains the names, addresses and emails of more than 10,000 supporters and was posted in breach of a court order obtained in April.