A policeman was under investigation, a radio DJ heard there were no plans to rehire him, a Cambridge academic feared the sack and an Apostolic Church minister was unrepentant after the leaking of the British National Party’s membership list.

Members who lived quietly, keeping their support for the far-right party a secret for years, suddenly found themselves answering abusive phonecalls.

With their names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses forced into the light, many were reluctant to renounce their allegiance, insisting that they joined the party to resist immigration and Europe rather than for any racist motivation.

Police were yesterday keeping a close eye on the home of Steve Bettley, a police constable in Prenton, Wirral, after his name appeared on the list. Black leaders appealed for calm.

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Mr Bettley’s name appears among family members related to an alleged activist. A note written by the BNP states: “Discretion required re. employment concerns. Police officer”.

Like many forces, Merseyside bans membership of the BNP because of its perceived racist views. A spokesman said: “Whether Merseyside PC Steve Bettley was, or is, a member of BNP is subject to an ongoing inquiry.

“Chief Constable Bernard Hogan-Howe has reiterated our position that membership of the BNP is totally incompatible with the duties and values of Merseyside Police. We will not accept a police officer or police staff being a member of the BNP.”

Merseyside Black Police Association [MBPA] said: “Due process must be allowed to take place, and we appeal for calm in that respect.

“MBPA also supports Merseyside Police to ensure the safety and security of those who it feels may be at risk as a result of being associated with the BNP as a result of the publication of personal details on to the internet.

“We condemn any and all unlawful acts, and will assist Merseyside Police to hold those to account who perpetrate such behaviour.”

There was also confusion over the fate of the Sony award-winning DJ Rod Lucas. TalkSPORT at first said it had “no plans to use Rod Lucas in the immediate future” after its occasional nighttime host was named as a BNP member. Later yesterday the station issued a statement on his behalf denying that he supported the BNP.

Mr Lucas said from Spain, where he hosts an expats’ show: “I am an investigative radio journalist and am a member of over 20 political parties and pressure groups.

“I do this for research, in order to come up with material for my show.

“In 2004 I did a series of shows on Fusion Radio in which I delved into the BNP. I have often mentioned on air my work on the BNP, it is certainly no dirty secret.”

Arthur Nightingale, the head experimental design engineer at the Centre for Industrial Photonics at the University of Cambridge, feared dismissal after he was outed as a party member.

“I might lose my job,” he said. “It’s a high price to pay but on the other hand if the country is bleeding to death then somebody has to step in and do something about it.” Mr Nightingale admitted he had kept his membership quiet: “I haven’t advertised it.”

He was concerned about being exposed: “It’s disgusting but it’s in line with everything that’s happening with this Government today, I’m afraid.”

John Bell, a part-time legal adviser to Slough Council until last year, admitted he joined the BNP in 2001. The authority, where about a third of people are from ethnic minorities, said it had been unaware of his membership. He said: “I’m concerned about nuisance telephone calls, of which I have had a couple: one last night from some young woman with a cultured voice, and another this morning from a chap who said he was from the ‘KKK catalogue’ – at first I was taken in, I wondered what on earth was that.”

Paul Thomas, of Twyn, Carmarthenshire, a civil servant, said: “My telephone isn’t just ex-directory. It’s higher than that because I work for the government. Now my telephone number is being given out to all and sundry. I do a job that puts me in conflict with a lot of nasty people. They would now know where I live.”

At the Apostolic Church in Holbeach, Lincolnshire, the Rev Robert West was unrepentant.

“I am a member of the BNP since May 2006,” he said. “That’s public knowledge. God has divided the nations for their own good. Every race needs their space. But I get on with the ethnic minorities,” he insisted. “I love them really.”

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