Met Police officer charged with being member of neo-Nazi group

A probationary Metropolitan Police officer has today been charged with being a member of a far-right terrorist group, the force has announced.

Benjamin Hannam, 21, of north London, is accused of being a member of National Action - a neo-Nazi group which is banned in the UK under the Terrorism Act.

The probationary constable, who works in 'frontline policing', was previously arrested by counter-terrorism officers at an address in north London, where police carried out a search in May.

He has been suspended from duty, the Met Police has announced.

Benjamin Hannam, 21, of north London, is accused of being a member of National Action - a neo-Nazi group which is banned in the UK. Picture of two police officers from library

Hannam is also charged with two counts of fraud, related to accusations that he denied being a member of the organisation in his application to join the Met Police, one count of possessing an indecent image of a child and one count of possessing a prohibited image of a child.

He has been bailed to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on August 6.

The Met Police previously announced that the case has been referred to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) watchdog.

Earlier this year MPs backed a ban on membership of more right-wing groups.

A proscription order was issued which makes joining Sonnenkrieg Division illegal in the UK.

The law also recognises System Resistance Network as an alias of the already banned neo-Nazi group National Action.

Anyone found to be a member of, or offering support to, the banned groups can face up to 10 years in jail.