Senior policeman accuses Met boss of discrimination

ENGLAND’S most senior Muslim policeman launched a stinging attack yesterday on the controversial head of London’s police, against whom he has launched a discrimination claim.

Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur said it was with “deep regret” that he was taking Ian Blair of the Metropolitan Police to an employment tribunal and denied the move was linked to unhappiness at not being promoted.

“My current case is essentially to do with my treatment at the highest levels of the Met, in particular the discrimination I have been subjected to over a long period by the present Commissioner Sir Ian Blair,” Ghaffur said.

He added it also covered treatment he had faced in his present role as security co-ordinator for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Ghaffur’s lawyer Shahrokh Mireskandari suggested his case might not be an isolated one. Asked whether he thought Blair or the Metropolitan Police was racist, Mireskandari told reporters: “When there’s so [many] discrimination cases coming out by ethnic minorities, that speaks for itself ...

“I think that there are even further allegations against Sir Ian at the moment which are probably just as serious, I think it’s an accumulation of many allegations against him.”

Alfred John, the chairman of the Metropolitan Black Police Association who was also at the press conference, added Ghaffur’s claims were “not an isolated incident”.

He said that racism on both an institutional and individual level continued in the Metropolitan Police.

Ghaffur is one of four assistant commissioners, who are the third most senior officers in the force after the commissioner and deputy commissioner.

He is claiming a reported £1.2 million (€1.4m) for alleged discrimination on grounds of race and religion.

The claim is expected to be ruled on by the tribunal in the next month.