'Neo-Nazi' Met Police officer, 22, appears in court for being 'member of far-right terror group National Action and possessing child porn'

  • Benjamin Hannam, 22, was in the Old Bailey this morning over charges
  • He is accused of five offences, including membership of National Action
  • The extremist group was outlawed under terrorism legislation in 2016
  • Hannah is also accused of possessing indecent image of a child and fraud 

By Dan Sales For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

A serving Met Police officer has appeared in court charged with being a member of far-right terror group National Action, fraud and possessing an indecent image of a child.

Benjamin Hannam, 22, was in the Old Bailey this morning to face a total of five charges, but did not enter any pleas.

Probationary officer Hannam, of north London, was bailed ahead of a pre-trial hearing in December.

Probationary Metropolitan Police officer Benjamin Hannam, 22, outside an earlier hearing

Probationary Metropolitan Police officer Benjamin Hannam, 22, outside an earlier hearing

He is accused of being part of National Action between December 17, 2016, and January 1, 2018, which is against section 11 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

Hannam has also been charged with lying about his membership of the extremist group on his July 2017 application to join the Met.

Later in October that year he is accused of witholding the same information on a police vetting form.

National Action is an extremist group was outlawed under terrorism legislation in December 2016.

Benjamin Hannam, 22, outside Westminster Magistrates Court
Hannam, 22, is accused of being a member of a terrorist group

Hannam has been charged with five offences, including member of a terror group and fraud 

Hannam is also charged with being in possession of an indecent photograph of a child.

He is also accused of being in possession of a prohibited image of a child. 

A provisional date of March 1 next year has been set for when he will be put on trial.

The Met said he was currently suspended from duty.  

Charges in full against the officer

- Between 17 December 2016 and 1 January 2018 he belonged or professed to belong to a proscribed organisation, namely National Action, contrary to section 11 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

- On or before 19 July 2017 he dishonestly made a false representation, in that he falsely represented in his application to join the Metropolitan Police that he had not been a member of an organisation similar to the BNP, namely National Action, intending to make gain for himself, contrary to section 1 and 2 of the Fraud Act 2006.

- On or before 24 October 2017 he dishonestly made a false representation, in that he falsely represented in his vetting form to join the Metropolitan Police that he had not been a member of an organisation similar to the BNP, namely National Action, intending to make gain for himself, contrary to section 1 and 2 of the Fraud Act 2006.

- On 22 July 2018 he was in possession of an indecent photograph of a child, contrary to section 160 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988.

- On 27 November 2016 he was in possession of a prohibited image of a child, contrary to section 62 of the Coroners and Justice Act 2009.

London

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