BURNLEY'S British National Party councillors put forward their first motion during a meeting of the council last night.

Their first motion -- the first time they have taken an active role in council business -- praised the police for helping to reduce the amount of racially-motivated crime in the town.

BNP representative for the Gannow Top ward, Coun Terry Grogan, moved the motion at last night's Executive Board.

He said: "This council welcomes the recently released crime figures for the period April-August 2002 which show an 11 per cent drop in crime within the Pennine Division. Especially pleasing, in spite of the widespread predictions to the contrary by local politicians, trade unions, pressure groups etc on May 3, racially motivated crime has fallen by a massive 54 per cent, with 120 incidents.

"We would like to thank the officers of Pennine Police who, with these latest figures, are making the borough a safer place for all our residents."

Council leader Stuart Caddy imposed an amendment to the motion and opposed claims that the BNP played any part in helping to reduce racially-motivated crime since its three representatives were elected. The amendment welcomed the reduction in crime and said attacks on the most vulnerable sections of the community could not be tolerated.

Councillors said Coun Grogan had not looked at the facts surrounding the reduction.

Coun Paul Moore said: "What councillor Grogan failed to tell us was that in Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale there were 197 racially-motivated incidents, 123 of these were in Burnley alone.

"I certainly don't consider that to be a success.

"The facts don't take into account that obviously the figures would be lower because the year before Burnley suffered one of the worst racial disturbances it has ever seen."

Coun Caddy said: "If the three BNP councillors want to convince people that they are not racist then they should reject the BNPs racist policies."

Coun Grogan said: "I do not agree with everything the BNP stands for nationally but is that to say all Labour councillors agree with everything Tony Blair does?

"I don't think so.

"I want to work within the council and the 10,000 people who elected me."