Extremists spark poll day fears

| Friday, 7 April 2006 Source: IC South London

THE British National Party is to field election candidates in New Addington for the first time.

And the news has sparked fears that it could inflame racial tensions on the estate.

Police are set to keep a high profile watching brief on the council election campaign after accusations that BNP canvassers were already "intimidating" voters and fellow candidates.

Clifford Le May and Matthew Bedford are standing in New Addington and Fieldway respectively.

It will be the first time that the BNP has ever fought seats in Croydon Council elections.

It is understood that council officials are particularly concerned there should be no problems on polling day itself, on May 4, and that they have told police they want to ensure no one is intimidated or put off voting.

But the BNP's national press officer, Dr Phil Edwards, said on Wednesday there was no question of party members intimidating anybody.

However, reports are already reaching the Advertiser that BNP supporters have been out in force in Homestead Way and Salcot Crescent over the past two weekends.

Cllr Brenda Kirby, one of Labour's candidates in New Addington, said: "I am not the kind of person who is intimidated easily.

"But they were spread across Homestead Way and I did find their presence intimidating. I decided to give up canvassing.

"I was very concerned and wondered how I would feel if I was black and walking down the road at that time.

"The surprising thing was that they were not kids with crew cuts and tattoos, they were adult men."

Cllr Kirby said that during her term as mayor last year she had discovered "what a fantastic, multi-cultural place Croydon is".

She added: "I find it unacceptable that some people are trying to change that in the area in which I live and create tensions where there haven't been any before."

Council leader Cllr Tony Newman said he did not want to give the BNP the oxygen of publicity.

He said he hoped that political debate during the election campaign would centre on the mainstream parties and work being carried out within the communities.