Pc expenses 'race claim' settled

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A police officer who claimed his force racially discriminated against him in a row over petrol expenses has settled the dispute out of court.

Det Con Jason Lobo, 37, who is of mixed race, was suspended for three years by Lancashire Police and taken to court.

But he was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing and was finally allowed back to work in 2006 after it was accepted he had mistakenly over-claimed £90.

Both parties agreed the settlement ahead of an employment tribunal.

A report that I falsely claimed £86.50 led to an investigation which cost £500,000 Det Con Jason Lobo

Mr Lobo, of Blackburn, revealed he had settled his claim for racial discrimination for an undisclosed amount.

He said he felt "vindicated" by the settlement but was disappointed no-one would be held accountable for the inquiry, thought to have cost £500,000.

"I have gone through a forensically-detailed examination of my police life, in which a detective inspector and a detective sergeant spent about 12 months examining my expenses," said Mr Lobo.

"Out of 151 expense claims they found issue with just six of them.

"A report that I falsely claimed £86.50 led to an investigation which cost £500,000," he added.

"I feel vindicated but this is a bitter victory. No-one is going to be held accountable for wasting so much public money."

Issues 'resolved'

Mr Lobo, who was a Pc at the time, was suspended in 2003 over the allegations, which surrounded a secondment to the Immigration Service in Manchester.

He was cleared of false accounting and attempting to pervert the course of justice when the prosecution offered no evidence at Liverpool Crown Court in 2005.

Although he was cleared, Lancashire Constabulary pursued an internal inquiry and he admitted the mistaken claims.

Mr Lobo was fined seven days' pay before being reinstated.

A spokesman for Lancashire Constabulary said: "The Constabulary and Det Con Lobo have now resolved the issues which led to Det Con Lobo pursuing recourse through the employment tribunal."