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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Blair blamed in police race claim | Blair blamed in police race claim |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| One of the UK's most senior Asian police officers has launched an attack on the head of the Metropolitan Police. | One of the UK's most senior Asian police officers has launched an attack on the head of the Metropolitan Police. |
| Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur told a press conference he had been discriminated against "over a long period of time" by Sir Ian Blair. | Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur told a press conference he had been discriminated against "over a long period of time" by Sir Ian Blair. |
| Mr Ghaffur is taking his claims of racial and religious discrimination to an employment tribunal. | Mr Ghaffur is taking his claims of racial and religious discrimination to an employment tribunal. |
| But Deputy Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said all sides should "shut up" and "get on with the job". | But Deputy Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said all sides should "shut up" and "get on with the job". |
| Sir Paul said it was inappropriate for the argument to be conducted in public. | Sir Paul said it was inappropriate for the argument to be conducted in public. |
| He added the Met will "robustly challenge" Mr Ghaffur's claims. | He added the Met will "robustly challenge" Mr Ghaffur's claims. |
| I think it's long past that time that we all shut up and get on with the job that we are all paid to do Deputy Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson | I think it's long past that time that we all shut up and get on with the job that we are all paid to do Deputy Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson |
| Mr Ghaffur, who also claimed Sir Ian Blair sidelined him in his role as head of security for the 2012 Olympic Games, said his employment tribunal claim would include claims of race and religious discrimination. | Mr Ghaffur, who also claimed Sir Ian Blair sidelined him in his role as head of security for the 2012 Olympic Games, said his employment tribunal claim would include claims of race and religious discrimination. |
| He said: "My current case is essentially to do with my treatment at the highest levels of the Met, in particular the discrimination I have been subject to over a long period of time by the present commissioner Sir Ian Blair. | He said: "My current case is essentially to do with my treatment at the highest levels of the Met, in particular the discrimination I have been subject to over a long period of time by the present commissioner Sir Ian Blair. |
| "I'm not seeking massive monetary benefits and I do not have grievances against the whole of the Met, an organisation that I dearly love and admire." | "I'm not seeking massive monetary benefits and I do not have grievances against the whole of the Met, an organisation that I dearly love and admire." |
| He claimed to have been "victimised" since his grievances were made public. | He claimed to have been "victimised" since his grievances were made public. |
| Deputy Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said all sides should shut up | |
| In a press conference Sir Paul said he recognised Mr Ghaffur's right to bring the claim but was unhappy about the issue being made public. | In a press conference Sir Paul said he recognised Mr Ghaffur's right to bring the claim but was unhappy about the issue being made public. |
| He said he was "very disappointed that attempts to reach a mediated settlement have failed". | He said he was "very disappointed that attempts to reach a mediated settlement have failed". |
| He added: "I do not think it was appropriate for this matter to be conducted in such a public way. | He added: "I do not think it was appropriate for this matter to be conducted in such a public way. |
| "That is a matter for him (Mr Ghaffur) to reconcile with what he considers to be his proper responsibilities as one of this country's most senior police officers. | "That is a matter for him (Mr Ghaffur) to reconcile with what he considers to be his proper responsibilities as one of this country's most senior police officers. |
| "The MPS will not at this time be commenting publicly in detail on the content of Assistant Commissioner Ghaffur's claims, other than to say that we do not accept the charges of discrimination against us and intend to robustly challenge them. | "The MPS will not at this time be commenting publicly in detail on the content of Assistant Commissioner Ghaffur's claims, other than to say that we do not accept the charges of discrimination against us and intend to robustly challenge them. |
| "In short, I think it is long past time that we all shut up, stop making public statements about private disputes and get on with the job we are paid to do." | "In short, I think it is long past time that we all shut up, stop making public statements about private disputes and get on with the job we are paid to do." |