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British Muslim police officer who
fought racism is suspended
WSN Network
 LONDON:
In a blow to fight against discrimination at work place, Britain’s
most senior Asian police officer was “relieved of his command” after
he lodged a £1.2m racial discrimination claim against the
Metropolitan Police (Met).
Commissioner Ian
Blair met officer Tarique Ghaffur and his lawyer just before the
decision that was described by the National Black Police Association
(NBPA) as "sad".
Ghaffur,
immediately after the decision was known, said: “It is obvious to me
that the actions that have been taken today have all the hallmarks
of wilful acts of victimisation against me for explaining why I had
made my complaint.”
Members of the
Met’s Black Police Association (MPA) are discussing whether to stage
a “walk-out”.
The latest twist
undermines Blair's leadership of
Britain's
largest force.
Alfred John, the
chairman of NBPA, said his organisation was “disappointed” with the
“unprecedented decision”.
“We are
disappointed by the move of the Commissioner to do that. His message
to his employees and the people of
London is very
clear — you can come and work for us but don’t make any complaints
if you are black, Asian or Muslim because the organisation will get
you.”
As the Met's
"No.3" he attended Sir Ian's "cabinet" meetings three times a week
and was head of a unit which oversees security planning for the 2012
Olympics and the Met's firearms teams.
Ian Blair's
image as a champion of diversity also lies in pieces. Now, the two
most senior officers are Cmdr Shabhir Hussain, who last week lost
his own race case after claiming he was denied promotion four times,
and Cmdr Ali Dizaei, who has strongly backed Ghaffur in his claim.
The Ugandan born
of Pak-origin parents, 53-year-old Ghaffur joined the police service
in 1974 after coming to
Britain as a
teenage refugee.
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A disgrace
Peter Herbert, MPA and chairman of the Society of Black Lawyers:
“The Met’s response to this race claim is a disgrace. If someone
has lodged a complaint you cannot do something as blatantly
obvious to victimise them as sacking them. It borders on
harassment. |
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Assistant
Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur lodged the claim against the Met with
an employment tribunal on August 22. He claims he was discriminated
against on grounds of race, religion and age.
Ghaffur, who is
head of security planning for
London’s 2012
Olympics, would now remain on his £180,000-a-year salary pending the
outcome of the tribunal and the end of his contract next May.
The Met’s
Professional Standards Committee has called for an investigation
into whether Ghaffur breached disciplinary codes by staging a
televised press conference to announce his race claim.
The Telegraph
reported that "Sir Ian’s intervention has fuelled the civil war
which is tearing apart the Met and threatens to plunge the force
into its worst race crisis since the 1998 Macpherson report branded
it 'institutionally racist'."
10 September 2008
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