National Action banned from using aliases such as Scottish Dawn and NS131

An order that bans a neo-Nazi group is to be extended to stop it masquerading under different names.

From Friday Scottish Dawn and NS131 (National Socialist Anti-Capitalist Action) will be proscribed after being identified as aliases of National Action which became the first extreme right-wing group to be banned under terrorism laws in December 2016.

An order was laid down in parliament on Thursday that also means being a member of, or inviting support for, the organisations will be a criminal offence that could lead to up to 10 years in prison.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said: "National Action is a vile, racist, homophobic and anti-Semitic group which glorifies violence and stirs up hatred while promoting their poisonous ideology, and I will not allow them to masquerade under different names.

"By extending the proscription of National Action, we are halting the spread of a poisonous ideology and stopping its membership from growing - protecting those who could be at risk of radicalisation."

Scottish Dawn describes itself on its website as a "patriotic society for the defence of our race and nation active across Scotland".

It goes on: "Those standing for the preservation of our people and who struggle against the problems brought by multiculturalism are met with resistance.

"We seek to oppose this arrogant system and give our people a voice through direct action, organisation, demonstrations and philanthropic acts."

The Terrorism Act 2000 gives the Home Secretary the power to issue an order that an alternative name or alias is to be treated as another name for a banned organisation.

The Home Office said decisions about proscribing or extending the proscription of a particular organisation are taken after extensive consideration and in light of a full assessment of available information.

Welcoming the move, Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley, the head of UK Counter Terrorism Policing, said it would "help us disrupt and tackle the growing threat from the extreme right-wing and make the UK a more hostile place for terrorists".

Mr Rowley added: "Scottish Dawn and NS131 are aliases used by the banned extreme right-wing terrorist group National Action.

"From tomorrow membership or encouraging support of these organisations will be a criminal offence, carrying a sentence of up to 10 years' imprisonment.

"We remain committed to tackling all toxic ideologies which threaten the public's safety and are just as determined to stop right-wing terrorism as we are Islamist attacks against the UK."

The official list of proscribed groups describes National Action as a "racist neo-Nazi group" that was established in 2013.

It is "virulently racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic" and its activities and propaganda materials are especially aimed at recruiting young people, says the list.

Eleven people were arrested on Wednesday across England and Wales following an investigation into National Action.