September 21, 2009

Police cite riot fears to delay case against BNP teacher Adam Walker

Adam Walker shouting his mouth off as usual
The case against a teacher and British National Party member accused of religious intolerance has been postponed because police fear it will cause flare-ups in the community

The unprecedented intervention in the case of Adam Walker, a former soldier and karate expert from Durham, who was due to face the General Teaching Council (GTC) in Birmingham tomorrow, was made because of tensions between far-right activists and the Muslim community. The council will decide if Mr Walker, 39, should be struck off the register after he was alleged to have used a school computer to contribute racist and religiously intolerant views to online discussions during lessons. If found guilty he will be the first teacher to be banned for religious intolerance.

Violent clashes between the right-wing English Defence League and Muslims in Birmingham earlier this month heightened tensions in the community. Ahead of the hearing, Superintendent Matt Ward of West Midlands Police wrote to the GTC expressing “concern about the potential public order consequences of the hearing being convened in Birmingham at this time,” the council said today. Superintedent Ward requested that the hearing be postponed or relocated to prevent further outbreaks of violence.

The council and the parties involved have seven days to find an alternative date and venues to prevent further delays.

Mr Walker, who is president of Solidarity, a trade union closely associated with the BNP, has already been called before the GTC on two previous dates. Both were postponed on different grounds. He left his post as a technology teacher at Houghton Kepier Sports College in Houghton-le-Spring, near Sunderland in 2007 following the allegations.

The alleged incident, in which he is said to have criticised Muslims, homosexuals and asylum-seekers, is said to have happened between February and March 2007.

He was first brought before the teaching watchdog in November 2008 but the hearing was adjourned after Patrick Harrington, representing Mr Walker, successfully argued that the presence of Judy Moorhouse, a former president of the National Union of Teachers and a “known opponent” of the BNP, could prejudice the hearing.

Police officers, some wearing riot gear, were deployed outside that hearing after dozens of BNP supporters and anti-fascist activists gathered in Birmingham’s Victoria Square outside the offices of the GTC.

Mr Walker’s brother, Mark, lost an appeal against his sacking from Sunnydale College, Shildon, County Durham. Mark Walker, also a technology teacher, is accused of accessing the BNP’s website during school hours. Sunnydale Board of Governors upheld a decision to terminate his contract owing to ill health.

Times Online

17 comments:

JJ said...

What's the difference whether they hold the hearing now or in seven days? The threat from the EDL is there whenever it's held.

Anonymous said...

"Mark Walker, also a technology teacher, is accused of accessing the BNP’s website during school hours."

So they're both racist and homphobic then. What a surprise.

Anonymous said...

Can't wait to see how many EDL come along and support him!!!

West Midlands Unity said...

This is why we drastically need the N.U.T to bar all BNP members from becoming teachers. I know there was a debate the other day, about banning them from certain jobs but this kind of furore can only play into the BNP's hands...

Anonymous said...

The government is seen to be caving in to street army pressure. It only encourages them. Hold the hearing and send in the riot squad.

Bry said...

Looks like the neo-Nazi BNP delaying tactics worked. They will always now incite an EDL Casuals riot before such hearings take place to ensure the authorities are fucking duped into letting the scumbags get off scott-free.

This stinks, it really does.

Anonymous said...

The old arguement,you can ban members of the bnp but how do you know they are members and what about their supporters?

discodave said...

It's a sad day when a bunch of racist football hooligans can delay a displinary hearing against a fascist schoolteacher.

If the police cared so much about civil disorder, why the merry fuck did they (and probably still would) allow the EDL Casuals to march with fucking impunity?

If the "Chief Cuntstable" had the balls to ban the fascists from marching in the first place, as thousands of complainants had requested there would never have been any risk of future riots.

wren said...

These BNP twats look like a dour set of bastards, from the photo. You'd think they were attending a funeral not a disciplinary hearing, lol

Anonymous said...

"So they're both racist and homphobic then. What a surprise."

I've accessed the BNP website many times, does that make me a racist?

Red Flag said...

Mark's hearing should be interesting. A female teacher was set down yesterday for doing what he did.

Anonymous said...

"I've accessed the BNP website many times, does that make me a racist?"

If you've accessed it to post critical comments against asylum seekers, immigrants and the “promotion” of homosexuality, which is what Walker is accused of, then probably, yes.

Anonymous said...

"Mark's hearing should be interesting. A female teacher was set (sic) down yesterday for doing what he did."

What? Indulging in lesbian sex!!

Antifascist said...

'What? Indulging in lesbian sex!!'

LOL

'Mark's hearing should be interesting. A female teacher was set down yesterday for doing what he did.'

Allegedly. Anyway, the hearing isn't about that, it's about the posts he made on the BNP website during school time.

Anonymous said...

If it had been a Labour, Lib Dem or Tory teacher (or, God forbid, even a SWP one) do you think he would be facing this trouble at the GTC?

Antifascist said...

'If it had been a Labour, Lib Dem or Tory teacher (or, God forbid, even a SWP one) do you think he would be facing this trouble at the GTC?'

If he had been posting racist, homophobic shite on the BNP website? Yes.

troll watch said...

The trolls on here think they're getting cleverer but once again, they've been exposed of having shit for brains!