A West Yorkshire Police employee has been arrested and sacked over his alleged association with the British National Party and for using work time to compile right-wing CDs and DVDs.Gary Marsden I'Anson, a controversial right wing singer-songwriter who has worked for the police for 23 years, is claiming unfair dismissal and racial discrimination against West Yorkshire Police. He was arrested at his Morley home on suspicion of possession of written material with intent to incite racial hatred – which he vigorously denied. No charges were brought. After being suspended on full pay he was eventually sacked in February, after a two-year investigation.
West Yorkshire Police told the YEP in a statement that Mr I'Anson was dismissed for the "excessive amount of working time he used to compile music CDs and DVDs and for his association with and contribution to BNP funds which is incompatible with values of West Yorkshire Police."
Mr I'Anson, 48, a police imaging officer, said he was not a member of the far-right British National Party. He insisted: "There were no grounds for my arrest", adding: "The last two years have been devastating for myself, my partner, family and friends."
When his home was raided in 2007 he said more than 500 items were seized , including:
- Union Jack flags;
- a local BNP leaflet poster;
- a picture by his 11 -year-old's daughter of his band with the Union Jack;
- two laptops;
- hundreds of CDs;
- audio visual equipment.
Mr I'Anson said he believed he was the first British songwriter to be the subject of a criminal inquiry over his published lyrics.
"I was in custody for nine hours, questioned for four hours and bailed. On answering bail I was in custody for seven hours and was questioned extensively again and released on bail to August 24 2007 when I was re-bailed to October 19 2007."
On October 18 2007 he said he was told the investigation was at an end with no further action and he could collect his property the next day.
Defending his lyrics, he said: "The lyrics of This is England are not remotely racist, there is no mention of race. The only thing I could be accused of is touching on some uncomfortable truths. This is the most outrageous attack on freedom of speech, artistic expression and an abuse of the criminal law for the purposes of political correctness and internal discipline."
West Yorkshire Police said they will contest his claim for unfair dismissal.
Yorkshire Evening Post
Note from LU: Whether l'Anson is a member of the BNP or not is beside the point. He certainly has sympathy with the far-right party and played at the party's annual piss-up, the Red, White and Blue 'festival' in 2007 - the recording is still available through the BNP's tat-arm, Excalibur.
The image below shows the graphic links from a page on which he has posted (Action in England).
Action in England has this telling statement in its introduction:'This website sets out to inform its readers about the truth of the failed experiment of multiculturalism and the real and present danger to our culture and our people by the huge influx of foreigners into our country...'Seems pretty clear to us where his sympathies lie.
