Racial Volunteer Force
Encyclopedia
The Racial Volunteer Force (RVF) is a violent neo-Nazi splinter group of the British
neo-Nazi group Combat 18
(C18) with close ties to far right paramilitary group, British Freedom Fighters. Although originating as a breakaway group the RVF has since re-established links to C18 whilst maintaining a distinct identity.
-based organiser, split to establish the RVF as a separate paramilitary
organisation.
The RVF claims to be part of an international organisation led by a Europe
an Council and states that it aims for unity between all National Socialists
and white nationalists
(including Combat 18) in an alliance against the supposed Zionist Occupation Government
. The group has garnered a reputation for its highly violent nature to the extent that other groups on the fringes of the British far right have sought to avoid being publicly associated with the RVF.
leader Kevin Quinn pleaded guilty to possession of the banned booklet The Longest Hatred. According to Peter Davies, the Assistant Chief Constable of Lincolnshire Police
(the force making the arrests), "it is difficult to imagine more extreme race hatred than was contained in the material which was seized during this meticulous enquiry. In addition to the guilty pleas last month, we can draw satisfaction from the fact that the Lincolnshire Police investigation team succeeded in discrediting and disrupting the organisation behind the production of this material". Amongst the offending items which came to light at the trial were an RVF magazine that encouraged violence, guides on how to make nail bombs and incendiary devices and copies of the Polish
neo-Nazi magazine Stormer. The police had first become aware of the group whilst monitoring far right and racist websites and their investigations led them to Nigel Piggins, who was sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment for his part in the affair.
, an anti-fascist campaigning group organised by Searchlight magazine members and former members of the RVF have attended events run by the English Defence League
.
The RVF has been active in street violence against perceived enemies in the last year or so including attacks on Anti-fascists in Blackpool
and Republican Sinn Fein
Supporters in Glasgow
. Various members have also been seen at street demonstrations in the Netherlands
confronting anti-facists. Early in 2009 alleged RVF activists were raided by counter terrorist police in south west England on suspicion of bomb making. Eventually the alleged members were released due to lack of evidence.
The RVF has also been associated with a group of hardliners within the National Front (NF) under the leadership of Leeds
organiser Tony White and his associates Stuart Hollingdale and Dave Hill. On Remembrance Day 2008 RVF members joined White's supporters, along with members of other extreme right groups such as the British People's Party, British Freedom Fighters and the Patriots of the White European Resistance, in holding a march to the Cenotaph, Whitehall
. This group took a leading role in criticising Terry Blackham's leadership of the NF. Links between the RVF and the NF were also seen in 2010 when the nomination papers for NF council election candidate Nick Walsh in the council election
in Kingston upon Hull
were signed by Nigel Piggins. The RVF was again linked to the NF in late 2011 after RVF members attended an NF event commemorating John Tyndall
in Preston.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
neo-Nazi group Combat 18
Combat 18
Combat 18 is a violent neo-Nazi organisation associated with Blood and Honour. It originated in the United Kingdom, but has since spread to other countries. Members of Combat 18 have been suspected in numerous deaths of immigrants, non-whites, and other C18 members...
(C18) with close ties to far right paramilitary group, British Freedom Fighters. Although originating as a breakaway group the RVF has since re-established links to C18 whilst maintaining a distinct identity.
Formation
The RVF emerged in 2002 after a split in C18. The long-established extreme right group had entered a period of severe inactivity under the leadership of Will Browning, leading to a sense of frustration amongst activists keen to reignite activity. As a consequence a group of militants under the leadership of Mark Atkinson, a long-term activist in C18, and John Hill, an OldhamOldham
Oldham is a large town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amid the Pennines on elevated ground between the rivers Irk and Medlock, south-southeast of Rochdale, and northeast of the city of Manchester...
-based organiser, split to establish the RVF as a separate paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
organisation.
The RVF claims to be part of an international organisation led by a Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an Council and states that it aims for unity between all National Socialists
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
and white nationalists
White nationalism
White nationalism is a political ideology which advocates a racial definition of national identity for white people. White separatism and white supremacism are subgroups within white nationalism. The former seek a separate white nation state, while the latter add ideas from social Darwinism and...
(including Combat 18) in an alliance against the supposed Zionist Occupation Government
Zionist Occupation Government
Zionist Occupation Government or Zionist Occupied Government is an antisemitic conspiracy theory which holds that Jews secretly control a given country, while the formal government is a puppet regime....
. The group has garnered a reputation for its highly violent nature to the extent that other groups on the fringes of the British far right have sought to avoid being publicly associated with the RVF.
Trial
A few of the group's members were arrested in 2003 on suspicions of weapons stockpiling and other charges and five members, including Atkinson and Hill, subsequently pleaded guilty to conspiracy whilst a sixth, November 9th SocietyNovember 9th Society
The British First Party is a British neo-Nazi group, formed in 1977 by Terry Flynn.-History:...
leader Kevin Quinn pleaded guilty to possession of the banned booklet The Longest Hatred. According to Peter Davies, the Assistant Chief Constable of Lincolnshire Police
Lincolnshire Police
Lincolnshire Police is the territorial police force covering the non-metropolitan county of Lincolnshire in the East Midlands of England. Despite the name, the force's area does not include North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire, which are covered by Humberside Police instead.In terms of...
(the force making the arrests), "it is difficult to imagine more extreme race hatred than was contained in the material which was seized during this meticulous enquiry. In addition to the guilty pleas last month, we can draw satisfaction from the fact that the Lincolnshire Police investigation team succeeded in discrediting and disrupting the organisation behind the production of this material". Amongst the offending items which came to light at the trial were an RVF magazine that encouraged violence, guides on how to make nail bombs and incendiary devices and copies of the Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
neo-Nazi magazine Stormer. The police had first become aware of the group whilst monitoring far right and racist websites and their investigations led them to Nigel Piggins, who was sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment for his part in the affair.
Activities
The group has been investigated for a series of threats made to journalists. According to Hope not HateHope not Hate
Hope not Hate is an anti-fascism and anti-racism campaign in the United Kingdom organised by Searchlight. It has campaigned against the nationalist and far-right British National Party. and have presented a 90,000 person petition to the European Parliament protesting against the election of Nick...
, an anti-fascist campaigning group organised by Searchlight magazine members and former members of the RVF have attended events run by the English Defence League
English Defence League
The English Defence League is a far-right street protest movement which opposes what it considers to be a spread of Islamism, Sharia law and Islamic extremism in the UK. The EDL uses street marches to protest against Islamic extremism...
.
The RVF has been active in street violence against perceived enemies in the last year or so including attacks on Anti-fascists in Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
and Republican Sinn Fein
Republican Sinn Féin
Republican Sinn Féin or RSF is an unregisteredAlthough an active movement, RSF is not registered as a political party in either Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland. minor political party operating in Ireland. It emerged in 1986 as a result of a split in Sinn Féin...
Supporters in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
. Various members have also been seen at street demonstrations in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
confronting anti-facists. Early in 2009 alleged RVF activists were raided by counter terrorist police in south west England on suspicion of bomb making. Eventually the alleged members were released due to lack of evidence.
The RVF has also been associated with a group of hardliners within the National Front (NF) under the leadership of Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
organiser Tony White and his associates Stuart Hollingdale and Dave Hill. On Remembrance Day 2008 RVF members joined White's supporters, along with members of other extreme right groups such as the British People's Party, British Freedom Fighters and the Patriots of the White European Resistance, in holding a march to the Cenotaph, Whitehall
The Cenotaph, Whitehall
The Cenotaph is a war memorial located in Whitehall, London. It began as a temporary structure erected for a peace parade following the end of World War I, but following an outpouring of national sentiment it was replaced by a permanent structure and designated the United Kingdom's official war...
. This group took a leading role in criticising Terry Blackham's leadership of the NF. Links between the RVF and the NF were also seen in 2010 when the nomination papers for NF council election candidate Nick Walsh in the council election
United Kingdom local elections, 2010
The 2010 United Kingdom local elections were held on Thursday 6 May 2010, when the 2010 general election also took place. Direct elections were held to all 32 London boroughs, all 36 metropolitan boroughs, 76 second-tier district authorities, 20 unitary authorities and various Mayoral posts, all in...
in Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
were signed by Nigel Piggins. The RVF was again linked to the NF in late 2011 after RVF members attended an NF event commemorating John Tyndall
John Tyndall (politician)
John Hutchyns Tyndall was a British politician who was prominently associated with several fascist/neo-Nazi sects. However, he is best known for leading the National Front in the 1970s and founding the contemporary British National Party in 1982.The most prominent figure in British nationalism...
in Preston.