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Top Asian officer in race claim Top Asian officer in race claim
(30 minutes later)
The country's most senior Asian police officer has accused his own force of racial discrimination. The country's most senior Asian police police officer has accused his own force of racial discrimination.
Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur is preparing a legal case against the Metropolitan Police.Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur is preparing a legal case against the Metropolitan Police.
His allegations include being silenced over concerns against 42-day detention and being sidelined by Commissioner Sir Ian Blair in key decisions.His allegations include being silenced over concerns against 42-day detention and being sidelined by Commissioner Sir Ian Blair in key decisions.
Mr Ghaffur has taken advice from a senior QC, according to the Black Police Association. A senior police source told the BBC that no official notification of any allegations had been received.
There has been no comment from the Metropolitan Police. The Metropolitan Police source added there was a genuine desire to deal with matters without resorting to a formal legal process.
'Browbeaten''Browbeaten'
The Black Police Association has said it is backing Mr Ghaffur's complaint and that he has had legal papers prepared for an employment tribunal. Mr Ghaffur is said to have complained of being humiliated, undermined and subjugated by the Metropolitan Police.
BBC London understands there are four main issues that have prompted Mr Ghaffur - who is in charge of planning security at the London 2012 Olympics - to take action. The Black Police Association has said it is backing the assistant commissioner's complaint.
These include: The negative effect of such an action... cannot be under-estimated Ali Dizaei, president National Black Police Association
They say he has taken advice from a senior and had legal papers prepared for an employment tribunal.
The BBC understands there are four main issues that have prompted Mr Ghaffur - who is in charge of planning security at the London 2012 Olympics - to take action.
These claims include:
• A failure to renew his five-year contract - due to end in March 2009 - when other officers of a similar level have had theirs renewed.• A failure to renew his five-year contract - due to end in March 2009 - when other officers of a similar level have had theirs renewed.
• Being sidelined by Commissioner Sir Ian Blair who has allegedly excluded him from key Olympic security planning meetings.• Being sidelined by Commissioner Sir Ian Blair who has allegedly excluded him from key Olympic security planning meetings.
• That he was allegedly browbeaten to keep quiet about his reservations that new laws to detain terror suspects for 42 days were unnecessary.• That he was allegedly browbeaten to keep quiet about his reservations that new laws to detain terror suspects for 42 days were unnecessary.
• That his relationship with Sir Ian has broken down.• That his relationship with Sir Ian has broken down.
It is understood that Mr Ghaffur believes these issues have undermined his role in preparations for the Olympics.It is understood that Mr Ghaffur believes these issues have undermined his role in preparations for the Olympics.
Mr Ghaffur, who was speaking at the Association of Chief Police Officers annual conference in Liverpool earlier, refused to comment.Mr Ghaffur, who was speaking at the Association of Chief Police Officers annual conference in Liverpool earlier, refused to comment.
"I'm not able to say a word. I can't comment," he said."I'm not able to say a word. I can't comment," he said.
The negative effect of such an action... cannot be under-estimated Ali Dizaei, National Black Police Association
But Ali Dizaei, president of the National Black Police Association, said he was aware of Mr Ghaffur's concerns.But Ali Dizaei, president of the National Black Police Association, said he was aware of Mr Ghaffur's concerns.
He said: "It will be a sad day for the police service if one of the UK's most respected senior ethnic minority police officers is forced to challenge his treatment in court.He said: "It will be a sad day for the police service if one of the UK's most respected senior ethnic minority police officers is forced to challenge his treatment in court.
My face did not fit and did not fit because I am not white Commander Shabir Hussain
"The negative effect of such an action on recruitment and on trust and confidence in policing, in particular with minority ethnic communities, will be significant and cannot be under-estimated.""The negative effect of such an action on recruitment and on trust and confidence in policing, in particular with minority ethnic communities, will be significant and cannot be under-estimated."
It would send a message to potential recruits from ethnic backgrounds that the police was not a career for them, he said.It would send a message to potential recruits from ethnic backgrounds that the police was not a career for them, he said.
The news comes as Sir Ian was accused in another employment tribunal of excluding black and Asian detectives in favour of a "golden circle" of white officers.
Commander Shabir Hussain, 45, claimed he was passed over for promotion by Sir Ian an "unprecedented" four times.
Speaking at a London employment tribunal on Tuesday, he said: "My face did not fit and did not fit because I am not white."
The claims by Mr Ghaffur and Mr Hussain are the latest controversy to hit Sir Ian, following the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes, the Forest Gate raid and a number of ill-judged comments.
Stop-and-searchStop-and-search
It is not the first time Mr Ghaffur has spoken out against the police. And it is not the first time Mr Ghaffur has spoken out against the police.
In 2006, during a speech in Manchester, he warned that Muslims were being discriminated against as the result of anti-terror legislation.In 2006, during a speech in Manchester, he warned that Muslims were being discriminated against as the result of anti-terror legislation.
He said many police stop-and-searches were based more on physical appearance than on specific intelligence.He said many police stop-and-searches were based more on physical appearance than on specific intelligence.
Born in Uganda in east Africa, his family were forced to flee their native land when dictator Idi Amin expelled most of the country's minority Asian population in 1972.Born in Uganda in east Africa, his family were forced to flee their native land when dictator Idi Amin expelled most of the country's minority Asian population in 1972.
Two years later, aged 16, he began his police career as a Pc with Greater Manchester Police (GMP) in Salford.Two years later, aged 16, he began his police career as a Pc with Greater Manchester Police (GMP) in Salford.
At the time Mr Ghaffur was one of only two officers from an ethnic minority in a force of more than 6,000.At the time Mr Ghaffur was one of only two officers from an ethnic minority in a force of more than 6,000.
He has recalled that on his first day the desk sergeant refused to believe he was a police officer and initially would not let him enter the station.He has recalled that on his first day the desk sergeant refused to believe he was a police officer and initially would not let him enter the station.