Asian cop sues Scotland Yard for racial discrimination

Britain's most senior police officer has been accused of excluding black and Asian detectives in favour of a 'golden circle' of white officers.

Britain’s most senior police officer has been accused of excluding black and Asian detectives in favour of a “golden circle” of white officers.

A senior Asian officer, Commander Shabir Hussain, claimed that he was passed over for promotion by Sir Ian Blair, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, because “my face did not fit and did not fit because I am not white”.

Forty-five-year-old Hussain told an employment tribunal being held in Stratford, east London, that Sir Ian used his “very significant influence” over the selection process of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) to earmark his chosen officers.

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Hussain claimed he was rejected an “unprecedented” four times for promotion to deputy assistant commissioner while Sir Ian’s “favourite sons and daughters” succeeded after a maximum of two attempts.

His allegation against the police chief is the latest blow to Scotland Yard. Earlier this month, Sergeant Gurpal Virdi, a Sikh detective, was awarded 70,400 pounds in damages after a tribunal ruled that he had been passed over for promotion because he had brought race discrimination claims against the Metropolitan Police Service.

Hussain is suing the Metropolitan Police, the MPA and the chairman, Len Duvall, for racial discrimination. “Promotion to the highest ranks of the Metropolitan Police Service appears to operate by the earmarking of a ‘golden circle’ of preferred candidates,” he said.