In a leaflet distributed across the country, the BNP lists 160 claimed racist incidents – including the shooting of PC Beshenivsky during a bungled robbery at a Bradford travel agent's in 2005.

But her widower, Paul, said: "Sharon's murder was not a racist attack and it should not be used in that way.

"These people are totally distorting the facts and just making it up. I was told about this by the Police Federation and we are not at all happy about it.

"The call Sharon went to could have been responded to by anyone. It would not have mattered whether it had been an English, Asian or Polish officer who attended, this gang would have shot them."

The chairman of the West Yorkshire Police Federation, Tom McGhie, said: "It is appalling that the BNP would use the tragedy to try to further its political agenda.

"I can't imagine what the Beshenivsky family and Sharon's colleagues would feel about her death being used in this manner.

"To relate the murder to a racist attack is simply wrong. These were dangerous criminals prepared to use ultimate force."

Bradford South Divisional Commander Chief Supt Alison Rose added: "Sharon Beshenivsky died doing her duty. There was not a racial motive to her death."

BNP spokesman Simon Darby said: "We are angered by the continued murder of white people. We used exactly the same criteria as the Institute for Race Relations and if it had been an Asian police officer killed by white people it would have been classed as a racist attack.

"No-one ever criticises their statistics. This is a typical tactic of the left."

Muzzaker Shah and Yusuf Jama received life sentences for their part in the murder. Brothers Faisal and Hassan Razzaq were found guilty of manslaughter and of the robbery. Faisal was jailed for life with a minimum of 11 years and Hassan was jailed for 20 years. Raza Ul-Haq Aslam was given eight years for robbery.

Arrested in Somalia, Mustaf Jama, 27, is due to be tried in January on murder, robbery, and firearms charges