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Journalism of Courage
A top Muslim police officer in the UK plans to sue his Scotland Yard boss for racial discrimination, a development that may spark a row over the role of ethnic minorities in the security forces of Britain.
Tarique Ghaffur, Assistant Commissioner of Metropolitan Police, plans to sue chief Ian Blair for racial discrimination amid claims that he has been ‘sidelined’ from key meetings linked to the preparation for the London Olympics in 2012, despite his crucial role in security planning, the Mail online of Britain said.
The dramatic developments have sent shock waves through Scotland Yard and amongst senior officers in the UK.
His decision is an embarrassment to a force trying to show it does not discriminate on the grounds of race and religion.
The move comes just two days after another senior Asian officer accused the Met chief of sidelining ethnic minorities, the report said.
Commander Shabir Hussain told a race discrimination tribunal that Blaire uses his ‘very significant influence’ to push his chosen candidates for promotion.
Insiders said Ghaffur, who will seek compensation at an employment tribunal, has been moved to a less prestigious by Blair two years ago, following a bitter row with his boss.
The report said Ghaffur is known to have been opposed to the proposal to extend detention of terrorism suspects without charge to 42 days, an idea championed by the Met boss.
He is understood to allege that he was silenced in the debate over his concerns.
According to the report, Hussain claimed at tribunal that Ghaffur had complained of racism in the Met, and had even called the head of the Metropolitan Police Authority, Len Duvall, ‘a racist’.
Earlier this month, Sergeant Gurpal Virdi, a Sikh detective, was awarded 70,400 pounds in damages after a tribunal ruled that he had been victim of racism.
