Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Britain First asked to take down offensive Facebook image of cadet schoolgirls they were claiming to protect

The charity said the girls had been approached by two men and asked for a photo but did not know who they were

Caroline Mortimer

Sunday 08 November 2015 16:31 GMT

The schoolgirls were approached by the men but said they did not know who they were

Britain First has been asked to remove a photograph from its Facebook page of two schoolgirl sea cadets apparently being "guarded" by members of the far-right group from attacks by "Islamists".

The group posted photographs of two men standing next to the girls while they were selling poppies as part of their "Protect the Poppy" day of action to "protect poppy sellers from abuse by Islamists".

The charity commented on the post asking for the photograph to be removed.

Please rest assured we do not support Britain First. The cadets were approached by these and asked for a photo. They...Posted by Nottingham Sea Cadets on Saturday, November 7, 2015

The chairman of the Nottingham Sea Cadets, Sue Dewey, told The Independent the charity were "furious" about it.

She said: "It is completely beyond the pale. They haven't got permission and these kids are vulnerable- they don’t know who these people are and lots of people want to have their photo with cadets because they look so great in their uniform.

"They are using this spurious excuse that they are protecting the children but the kids don’t do this on their own they have adult instructors with them anyway so the whole thing is just shocking and we are really not happy about this."

She said the parents were furious because they normally had to give permission before their children's images were used in any publicity and they had made a "concerted effort" to get the image remove with "100s of people" reporting the image to Facebook.

Britain First has attracted criticism again for using pictures of young sea cadets without permission (Michele Jeffrey)

Their umbrella organisation, Sea Cadets UK said: "We are aware that an organisation we do not support or endorse is using an image of Sea Cadets to promote their own political agenda via their Facebook page.

"Sea Cadets is a national charity and an Apolitical organisation that is open to all faiths and none and we are fully inclusive.

"The posts on this organisation’s page are not in keeping with the Sea Cadet values or ethos. We have contacted them asking them to remove the image.

"However due to Facebook policy we are mindful that they may not be legally obliged to do so."

One of the mothers of the girls pictured also commented on the original post saying: "I am the mum of one of the girls. I’m horrified you have done this and posted it without any parental consent let alone the consent of the Sea Cadets.

"I really do not want my daughter linked to your site and I would ask to please remove the picture straight away.

"If you have any children imagine how you would feel if someone did this to them."

She added she had contacted Facebook and the police about getting the image removed.

Britain First controversies

Show all 8

1/8Britain First controversies

Britain First controversies

20 November 2014: Britain First claims credit for success of Ukip campaign

With the Tory defector Mark Reckless forecast to win the hotly-contested by-election in Rochester and Strood, Britain First suggested they only campaigned “to bolster the Ukip campaign”. Prior to the start of the vote some bookmakers had Nigel Farage’s party as huge 1/100 favourites to take the seat, which would make Mr Reckless their second MP at the expense of the Conservative Party. And with things going so smoothly for Ukip, the far right-wing group Britain First has tried to claim some of the credit

Britain First controversies

5 November 2014: Britain First accused of hijacking the poppy as Remembrance Day approaches to promote its own agenda

The far-right group used the symbol, which is a registered trademark of the Royal British Legion, on its website masthead and in Facebook posts driving more people to its page. It is seen alongside Britain First’s logo telling people to “take our country back” and crudely superimposed into the centre of the European Union flag with a message about “national sovereignty”. Members of opposition group Exposing Britain First believe many Facebook users are sharing poppy posts without realising who it comes from or what they stand for

Britain First controversies

28 October 2014: Britain First accuses Ukip of 'playing political game' with snub over Rochester photo

Britain First accused Ukip of “playing the political game” after Nigel Farage’s party reprimanded its campaigners for posing for a picture with members of the far-right group. A spokesperson for Ukip said the picture, taken while both parties were campaigning for the Rochester by-election on Saturday, was a “mistake” would “not happen again”

Britain First controversies

25 October 2014: Britain First starts 'direct action' on Mail and Sun journalists over Lynda Bellingham post

Britain First encouraged its followers to boycott the Daily Mail and The Sun after it was accused of using actress Lynda Bellingham's death to boost support. The party has threatened to launch "direct action" on the journalists after they said that the group used the cancer victim's death as a way to gain more attention on social media. Britain First posted a photograph to their Facebook subscribers of Mrs Bellingham with co-star Christopher Timothy, above the caption: "RIP actress Lynda Bellingham. Britain First", which garnered more than 6,000 'likes' and 500 shares

Britain First controversies

28 July 2014: Britain First founder Jim Dowson quits over mosque invasions and 'racists and extremists'

The founder of Britain First resigned from the far-right group over its “provocative and counterproductive” mosque invasions. James “Jim” Dowson, a former British National Party (BNP) member and anti-abortion campaigner, announced his departure on 27 July 2014. While Britain First blamed “media pressure” and family issues for the decision and said he would be missed “enormously” in a saccharine post, Mr Dowson publicly shamed the group’s tactics as “unacceptable and unchristian”

Britain First/Facebook

Britain First controversies

15 July 2014: Britain First 'battalion' invades mosque demanding removal of 'sexist' entrance signs

A self-styled battalion of the far-right group Britain First “invaded” a mosque in south London. The stated aim of the altercation was to “demand the removal of sexist signs” outside the Crayford Mosque. The signs designate separate entrances for men and women, so they can enter for segregated worship as is the custom in most mosques. Men and women also sit apart in Orthodox Jewish synagogues and some Sikh gurdwaras. A film of the encounter was posted on Facebook, set to dramatic drumming music and ending with the slogan: "Britain First Defence Force. No fear. No retreat. No surrender."

Britain First/Facebook

Britain First controversies

27 June 2014: Britain First's Facebook page taken down for 'hate speech'

Britain First’s Facebook page was taken down for hate speech – only to be restored again an hour later. Facebook claimed the extremist group’s page was taken down by mistake but a screenshot posted by anti-fascist campaigners Hope Not Hate seemed to show the social media site had removed Britain First in response to a complaint. With almost 500,000 “likes” Britain First’s page has a following that far outstrips the Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats, arguably making it the UK's biggest political site

Britain First controversies

27 April 2014: Inquiry over far-right Britain First party's use of Lee Rigby slogan on voting slip

The election watchdog faced an inquiry over its decision to allow a far-right party to use a slogan referencing the murdered soldier Lee Rigby. The Electoral Commission apologised for allowing Britain First to use the description “Remember Lee Rigby” on voting slips for next month’s European elections but Jenny Watson, the chair of the commission, said on Sunday that “an immediate and full independent investigation” would follow to “prevent this from ever happening again”

PA

The picture, which was posted by the group on Saturday evening, is one of a series of presumed Britain First members taking photographs with poppy sellers across the country - including another photograph taken with young army cadets.

The Independent has contacted Britain First for comment.