BENJAMIN HANNAM FROM EDMONTON: BRITAIN'S FIRST POLICE OFFICER CONVICTED OF TERRORISM INVOLVEMENT IN LONDON

In a landmark case that has sent shockwaves through the United Kingdom's law enforcement community, Benjamin Hannam, a 22-year-old resident of Edmonton in north London, was sentenced to over four years in prison for his involvement with a banned neo-Nazi organization, possession of extremist materials, and child sexual abuse images. This case marks the first time a police officer in Britain has been convicted of a terrorism-related offense.

Hannam, who was employed as a probationary police constable with the London Metropolitan Police, was found guilty earlier this month of being an active member of the extremist group known as National Action. The group was officially outlawed after it publicly praised the murder of Jo Cox, a British Member of Parliament who was tragically killed in a street attack in 2016 by an individual with Nazi sympathies. The group's violent ideology and incitement to hatred led to its designation as a terrorist organization.

Further investigations revealed that Hannam had lied on his police application forms and vetting documents, attempting to conceal his association with far-right groups. Authorities also uncovered that he possessed documents related to terrorism and had indecent images of a child, which he had previously admitted possessing. Following his conviction, Hannam was dismissed from the police force, a move that underscores the severity of his misconduct and the breach of trust involved.

During the sentencing at London's Old Bailey court, Jenny Hopkins, the Head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, emphasized the gravity of Hannam's deception. She stated, “Benjamin Hannam lied on his police application and vetting forms in an attempt to hide his dangerous and racist beliefs.”

Hannam's involvement with National Action began in early 2016, approximately six months before the group was officially banned in Britain. Despite the prohibition, he continued his association with the organization and its offshoot, NS131, even after the government proscribed these groups. His attempts to conceal his affiliations included lying about his involvement when applying to join the police in 2018.

Detectives uncovered his connections in February 2020, following the leak of a database containing members of the far-right online forum Iron March. During a search of his residence, officers discovered a notebook referencing the banned group, a guide on how to use knives and weapons, and the manifesto of Norwegian mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik, who carried out Norway’s deadliest peacetime atrocity in 2011, killing 77 people.

Further evidence showed that Hannam had attended National Action meetings in pubs, participated in training events, and appeared in online videos after the group was officially banned. However, there was no indication that he maintained contact with the group after he joined the police force. The case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in identifying and addressing extremism within their ranks, especially when individuals attempt to hide their true beliefs during the vetting process.