THE British National Party’s regional organiser in the North-East says he may sue police after he was told he would face no action over an allegation of racially-aggravated harassment.

Ken Booth said the party’s lawyers were looking to see if he had a case for wrongful arrest or false imprisonment.

Mr Booth, who is standing in next month’s European elections, was arrested in March by Northumbria Police after complaints were made to officers about his behaviour at a by-election count in Fenham, Newcastle, where he lives.

The 55-year-old said he had engaged in a bit of “friendly, good natured banter” with a Labour councillor, with the pair shaking hands at the end of the night.

Mr Booth, who finished third in the by-election, later learnt that a complaint had been made and he was arrested after officers came to his home to speak to him.

He claimed his arrest was “politically motivated”

and that the Labour Party was trying to “hound” him.

Mr Booth said: “Nobody complained to the police on the night. There was no intent on my part, it was just a bit of jovial, friendly banter.

“I have done nothing wrong.

“If you speak to people in this politically correct society and they take it the wrong way, you get your collar felt.”

Mr Booth said he had been treated well by the police but felt that, as he had done nothing wrong, he had to fight back on behalf of the party.

The father-of-three also said that since his arrest he had received hate mail from people, who had also been critical of his role as an elected parent governor at a local primary school .

He said: “The BNP just wants a level playing field. If people want to vote for us, they can vote for us. If they don’t like our policies, they can vote for someone else.”

A spokeswoman for Northumbria Police said: “A file was sent to the CPS, which has decided not to proceed with a prosecution, so no further action will be taken.”