THE British National Party has hinted it will use the murder of Hayley Richards in a bid to win votes at next year's local elections.

The party has promised Wiltshire will have its fair share' of BNP candidates for the town and district elections due to be held in May.

Last week the Wiltshire Times reported the party had been targeting local schools to spread its message. In a letter to the paper BNP Wiltshire organiser Mike Howson defended the campaign and criticised Wiltshire Police's community safety officer Glynn Hookings for getting involved with the issue.

Mr Hookings criticised the BNP for campaigning on the issue of migrant workers.

But Mr Howson wrote: "Migrant workers are taking the jobs of local people, just ask people from all over the county, who are coming over to us in increasing numbers. It's not the Poles' fault but our own politicians.

"But don't worry, the local people of Trowbridge and indeed Wiltshire itself will have their fair share of British National Party candidates to vote for in May.

"As for Inspector Hookings, I suggest that he goes back to policing, after all the senior officers of Wiltshire are very good at helping migrants murder local girls. I suggest they leave the politics to the professionals."

Pregnant Hayley Richards was murdered in June 2005 by Portuguese national Hugo Quintas. In April the factory worker was sentenced to life imprisonment and will serve at least 18 years.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission found the force had failed in certain aspects in its investigation into an assault on Miss Richards by Quintas six days before her death.

Miss Richards' brother Paul said he did not approve of the BNP using his sister's name to turn people against migrants. "My own personal feeling is the current government don't do enough when it comes to sentencing. Eighteen years isn't enough for murdering not just my sister but her baby as well. They should bring back the death sentence or if they don't, life imprisonment should mean life.

"But I'm not going to support the BNP going out and using my sister's name as a tool. I won't condone racism. We are not a racist family and there is good and bad in every race."

Mr Howson signed off his letter: "See you in May."

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