A male police officer in Merseyside is the first alleged BNP member to face consequences at his job after the far-right party's full membership list was leaked online.

Police called in independent investigators today after the officer's name, occupation and contact details were listed among more than 12,000 BNP supporters on an internet blog posted on Sunday night.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission said that it was waiting for official referral of the complaint about the Merseyside officer.

Police are banned from becoming members of the BNP because it would damage race relations, according to the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo).

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“Membership or promotion of the BNP by any member of the police service, whether police officer or police staff, is prohibited," said Acpo’s workforce development spokesman, Peter Fahy. “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.

“While the policy may have been controversial at the time it was enacted, in 2004, it has since been accepted by all staff and staff associations and remains unchallenged thus far.”

The membership list was today removed from the original blog where it was published but remains available on other websites.

Nick Griffin, the BNP leader, initially accused former BNP staff members who have been sacked, telling the Today programme on BBC Radio 4: "We are pretty sure [that we know who leaked it].

"We had a problem with a very senior former employee who left last year. He was one of the hardliners I inherited from my predecessor, he didn't like the direction the party was going in, thought it was too moderate, so he broke away taking the list with him."

The BNP won a High Court injunction against a former member in April preventing a membership list being made public.

WIthin a couple of hours, however, the BNP appeared to be backing off from accusing its former employee, and turning its sights on the Labour Party.

“It is looking increasingly likely that this is the work of Labour Party supporters," said Simon Darby, the party spokesman. "If they have not protected their IP [internet service provider address] properly, there will be an electronic trail leading back to the culprit.”

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