Probationary police officer denies being member of banned neo-Nazi group

A probationary Metropolitan Police officer has denied being a member of the banned neo-Nazi group National Action.

Benjamin Hannam, 22, of Enfield, north London, denied three charges when he appeared at the Old Bailey on Monday.

The first charge alleges Hannam belonged to or professed to belong to a proscribed organisation, namely National Action, contrary to section 11 of the Terrorism Act 2000, between December 2016 and September 2017.

He also pleaded not guilty to two counts of fraud by false representation in relation to his police application and vetting forms.

The charges state he claimed he had not been a member of an organisation similar to the BNP, namely National Action, intending to make gain for himself, contrary to sections 1 and 2 of the Fraud Act 2006.

Hannam was charged in July following an investigation by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command and has been suspended from duty, Scotland Yard said.

The defendant, who is on bail, faces a four-week trial from March 1.

A further pre-trial hearing was set for February 1.