British National Party (BNP) leader Nick Griffin (L) arrives at BBC Television Centre, in west London October 22, 2009. REUTERS/Tal Cohen

LONDON (Reuters) - The British National Party was banned on Friday from admitting new members until it complies with race equality laws, after a judge ruled its constitution was likely to discriminate against non-white people.

Last month, the far-right group scrapped its whites-only policy in an attempt to avoid legal sanctions from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).

But judge Paul Collins ruled its new rules, which still require new members to sign up to its principles, remain discriminatory.

“The BNP are likely to commit unlawful acts of discrimination within section 1b Race Relations Act 1976 in the terms on which they are prepared to admit persons to membership ..,” he said.

He issued an injunction ordering the BNP to comply with race equality laws.

“The membership list will have to be closed until then,” he told the hearing at Central London County Court.

Under the injunction, prospective BNP members will not in future have to be vetted at home before they are accepted.