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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Top Asian officer in race claim | Top Asian officer in race claim |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The country's most senior Asian police officer has accused his own force of racial discrimination. | The country's most senior Asian 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. |
| The Metropolitan Police said it was unaware of any tribunal application but would be disappointed at any action. | The Metropolitan Police said it was unaware of any tribunal application but would be disappointed at any action. |
| Jenny Jones, who sits on the Metropolitan Police Authority, told the BBC's Newsnight programme that she had never seen any racism in the police. | Jenny Jones, who sits on the Metropolitan Police Authority, told the BBC's Newsnight programme that she had never seen any racism in the police. |
| Undermined and subjugated | Undermined and subjugated |
| She described Mr Ghaffur as a "a very senior officer with an incredibly important job". | She described Mr Ghaffur as a "a very senior officer with an incredibly important job". |
| She said: "I'm incredibly sad that this is happening, if it's happening. And I hope very much that if there is any hint of racism it will be exposed. But I personally have never witnessed any." | She said: "I'm incredibly sad that this is happening, if it's happening. And I hope very much that if there is any hint of racism it will be exposed. But I personally have never witnessed any." |
| Mr Ghaffur is said to have complained of being humiliated, undermined and subjugated by the Metropolitan Police. | Mr Ghaffur is said to have complained of being humiliated, undermined and subjugated by the Metropolitan Police. |
| The Black Police Association has said it is backing the assistant commissioner's complaint. | The Black Police Association has said it is backing the assistant commissioner's complaint. |
| The negative effect of such an action... cannot be under-estimated Ali Dizaei, president National Black Police Association | The negative effect of such an action... cannot be under-estimated Ali Dizaei, president National Black Police Association |
| Mr Ghaffur has employed a senior barrister to draw up legal papers and is considering whether to formally commence an employment tribunal. | Mr Ghaffur has employed a senior barrister to draw up legal papers and is considering whether to formally commence 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. | 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: | 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. "I'm not able to say a word. I can't comment," he said. | 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. |
| 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. |
| "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. |
| My face did not fit and did not fit because I am not white Commander Shabir Hussain | My face did not fit and did not fit because I am not white Commander Shabir Hussain |
| A Met spokesman said: "The Metropolitan Police Service is unaware that an employment tribunal application has been served or is in the process of preparation. | A Met spokesman said: "The Metropolitan Police Service is unaware that an employment tribunal application has been served or is in the process of preparation. |
| "If it is, we regret and are disappointed that Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur has chosen to pursue such a course." | "If it is, we regret and are disappointed that Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur has chosen to pursue such a course." |
| The spokesman added: "We are keen to listen to any concerns that he has and attempt to resolve them with him. | The spokesman added: "We are keen to listen to any concerns that he has and attempt to resolve them with him. |
| "Any suggestion that the commissioner will not speak to AC Ghaffur is absolutely untrue." | "Any suggestion that the commissioner will not speak to AC Ghaffur is absolutely untrue." |
| 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. | 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. | 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." | 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 comments widely perceived to have been ill-judged. | 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 comments widely perceived to have been ill-judged. |
| Stop-and-search | Stop-and-search |
| And 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, 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. |