Police officers are to be sacked if they belong to the British National Party.

The Association of Chief Police Officers outlawed joining the BNP for police and staff in England and Wales.

The president, Chris Fox, said: "Under this policy no member of the police service, whether police officer or police staff, may be a member of an organisation whose constitution, aims, objectives or pronouncements contradict the general duty to promote race equality.

"This specifically includes the BNP and we anticipate that non-compliance will result in dismissal."