PICTURES of British National Party members in York whose names and addresses were revealed on a leaked list of its supporters have been posted on the internet.

The furious far-right organisation has branded the move “irresponsible and criminal” as police continue to investigate how the information – which also included phone numbers, e-mail addresses and, in some cases, occupations – was made public.

The Press revealed this week how details of 68 people in York and North Yorkshire with affiliations to the controversial party, including a prison officer, a former civil servant, a professional actor, a business manager, a retired nurse and two ex-servicemen, were among those on the leaked list, which contained about 12,000 names.

It showed the BNP has members in the Acomb, Holgate, Heworth and Strensall areas of the city, among others, as well as in Selby, Pocklington, Stamford Bridge, Linton-on-Ouse, Skelton and Market Weighton – with 20 of the group being listed as party activists.

The Prison Service has since confirmed it will investigate the case of the prison officer whose name was revealed, but has refused to reveal whether any action has been or will be taken against him.

It says it has a “zero tolerance policy of those who hold racist views” and candidates for recruitment are asked to state that they do not belong to groups such as the BNP, the National Front or Combat 18 – meaning anybody found to be a member of such an organisation could face disciplinary action or even the sack.

But a Prison Service spokesman said: “We are not prepared to say anything further on any investigation into any particular individual.”

The website where pictures of several of the York BNP members whose names were on the list were posted may now also be reported to police by the party, whose spokesman Simon Darby said: “We have seen this happening all over the country – it’s a clear attempt to knock us out of business and it’s not going to work.

“We have now left this with the police and they are taking it very seriously, so the repercussions for whoever is responsible for these leaks could be enormous. This is clear evidence of intimidatory tactics and the public is being given a ringside seat into the deterioration of British politics.

“This sort of behaviour is irresponsible and, more to the point, it’s criminal. We would never dream of making politics as personal as this.”

Police are already investigating a car fire close to the home of a BNP member in Bradford on Thursday night, and the party – whose leader Nick Griffin has blamed ex-staff at the organisation – has claimed the leaking of the list could leave members’ lives in danger.

The details have now been removed from the original blog where they were posted, but remain available on other websites.