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Minister faces police racism row | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The police minister will be questioned about claims by the country's most senior Asian police officer that he is the victim of racial discrimination. | The police minister will be questioned about claims by the country's most senior Asian police officer that he is the victim of racial discrimination. |
The chairman of the Home Affairs select committee, Keith Vaz, told the BBC that the committee would raise the issue with Tony McNulty next week. | The chairman of the Home Affairs select committee, Keith Vaz, told the BBC that the committee would raise the issue with Tony McNulty next week. |
Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur is said to have complained of being humiliated by the Metropolitan Police. | Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur is said to have complained of being humiliated by the Metropolitan Police. |
He is now considering taking legal action against the force. | He is now considering taking legal action against the force. |
His allegations include being silenced over concerns against powers to detain terrorist suspects for 42 days. | |
Mr Ghaffur also claims to have been sidelined by Commissioner Sir Ian Blair in key decisions over the 2012 Olympics, despite being in charge of planning security. | |
Intervention | |
Mr Vaz told Radio 4's Today programme: "What has changed since the Stephen Lawrence issue is black and Asian officers are now willing to challenge for the highest jobs in the police service. | |
"What is disappointing is that a number of those officers who have served their country well feel that they are being discriminated against. | |
"That is why we need to get to the root of things and understand what is happening and put things right. | |
"It does need intervention - if not from a minister then from the mayor of London." For a person of his personality and character to embark on this course of action - I think he is at the end of his tether Ali Dizaei Metropolitan Police Commander | |
The Metropolitan Police has said it is unaware of any tribunal application being made by Mr Ghaffur but would be disappointed at any such action. | The Metropolitan Police has said it is unaware of any tribunal application being made by Mr Ghaffur but would be disappointed at any such action. |
Metropolitan Police Commander Ali Dizaei told the BBC that some of the evidence of alleged discrimination Mr Ghaffur had gathered was "unequivocal". | |
"For a person of his personality and character to embark on this course of action - I think he is at the end of his tether," he said. | |
Mr Dizaei denied the row was simply over a missed opportunity for promotion. | |
"It was about his conduct, about the way he was dealt with around the Olympic issue, the way he has been dealt with generally," he said. | |
A spokesman for the Metropolitan Black Police Association said the organisation was "quite shocked" at Mr Ghaffur's complaints and was giving him its full support. |