Solicitor claims cancer 'sacking'

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A solicitor diagnosed with breast cancer while working at Scotland Yard is claiming she was unfairly dismissed because of her illness.

Susan Garnett is suing the Metropolitan Police service in London for damages.

Miss Garnett claims a police officer told her it was policy not to offer fixed-term contracts to people with such serious health problems.

The Met Police confirmed it received a complaint but said it was inappropriate to discuss the matter further.

The BBC's Labour Affairs correspondent Stephen Cape said Miss Garnett obtained substantial funding from the Home Office to work on a sensitive intelligence project for the police and security agencies.

She claimed Scotland Yard originally offered her a fixed-term contract which would have given her more security, but after repeated requests, only a temporary arrangement was made.

Miss Garnett alleges that when she was diagnosed with cancer, a police officer told her it was the policy of the Met not to issue fixed-term contracts to people with such serious health problems.

She said she was "aghast and deeply distressed".

Her solicitor, Jo McCarthy, said public service workers should set a trend to combat discrimination.