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Yard rocked by race row as senior Muslim officer fails to win promotion
Last updated at 09:37am on 08.03.07
No promotion: Chief Superintendent Ali Dizaei, whose controversial book has been serialised by a newspaper, has missed out on promotion
Scotland Yard was plunged into a race row last night after one of the country's most senior Muslim officers failed in his bid for promotion.
Chief Superintendent Ali Dizaei, an outspoken critic of racism in the Met, was one of ten officers hoping to be selected for the rank of Commander.
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No promotion: Chief Superintendent Ali Dizaei, whose controversial book has been serialised by a newspaper, has missed out on promotion
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But yesterday he was turned down for the £95,000-a-year post prompting a furious backlash from his supporters in the powerful National Black Police Association, to which he is legal adviser.
A senior official in the NBPA alleged Iranian-born Mr Dizaei, 44, may have been the victim of a 'personal vendetta' and demanded urgent talks with Met chief Sir Ian Blair to discuss the promotion snub. He also indicated the case could end up at an employment tribunal.
In a separate statement, the Metropolitan Black Police Association said it was "extremely disappointed" that Mr Dizaei had not been selected by a four-strong police authority promotion board, which was advised by Sir Ian.
"We suspect the decision of the Metropolitan Police Authority was not free from bias and could not have been reached on the basis of objective and fair criteria," it said.
Three white officers were selected for the rank of commander, equivalent to the rank of assistant chief constable, instead of Mr Dizaei.
Mr Dizaei - head of policing in Hounslow, west London - has angered scores of colleagues by writing a controversial book about his time at Scotland Yard, which was serialised in a national newspaper last week.
The timing of his book serialisation prompted claims that he was trying to put pressure on the police authority promotion board - a suggestion denied by Mr Dizaei.
In the book, entitled Not One Of Us, Mr Dizaei, writes scathingly about the four-year, multimillion-pound corruption investigation launched against him in 1999.
He was accused of drug abuse, using prostitutes, spying for Iran and making a series of 'deeply unpleasant' threatening phonecalls to a girlfriend.
It finally ended when he was cleared of perverting the course of justice and fiddling his expenses at the Old Bailey in 2003.
In addition to the criminal charges, Mr Dizaei was accused of nine police disciplinary offences, including claims he accepted backhanders and interfered in investigations on behalf of friends.
No action was taken after the Met - under pressure from the then Home Secretary David Blunkett - came to a controversial deal with Mr Dizaei, which was brokered by Sir Ian.
In return for him dropping a race discrimination claim, he was told all outstanding counts against him would be scrapped and that he would also receive £60,000 in compensation.
He was also handed a place on a prestigious chief officers' promotion course at Bramshill police college.
But three years after finishing the course, he is yet to be given a higher rank.
Keith Jarrett, president of the NBPA, said he would be seeking an urgent meeting with Sir Ian Blair in the wake of the MPA's decision not to promote Mr Dizaei.
He said he wanted "answers" from the Commissioner about why Mr Dizaei had been denied promotion when he led one of the best performing boroughs in London and had been graded as "exceptional" in his personal performance assessment.
If these answers were not satisfactory, Mr Jarrett said the NBPA would take the matter "further" - possibly to an employment tribunal.
Mr Dizaei had completed his senior command course three years ago - achieving the highest marks - and yet had still not been promoted, he said.
All nine other officers on the course had since been promoted to more senior roles, Mr Jarrett added.
He also said that in the last five years, there had been no promotions of senior black or Asian officers within the Met.
Mr Jarrett added: "I do not want to start levelling accusations of racism, but it worries me it could be a personal vendetta against Ali.
"I need to satisfy myself that is not the case."
Asked whether Mr Dizaei's book could have affected his chances, Mr Jarrett said: "I am hoping that the Met would not be so vindictive as to say because he has written this book we will not promote him.
"These are the questions I am hoping that we, along with the Metropolitan Black Police Association, will be asking the Commissioner."
In a statement, Sir Ian: "I am confident that the candidates who have been selected will lead by example and promote confidence in the MPS and within our communities.
"The position of commander within the Met is tough and demanding and requires real dedication and commitment. The selection process was full and thorough and tested each candidate's ability at various stages."
Len Duvall, chairman of the MPA, insisted Mr Dizaei had been treated fairly at the promotion board.
"We categorically deny the Metropolitan Black Police Association's unwarranted attack on the integrity of our promotion process," he said.
"Their allegation of bias amounts to a charge of discrimination.
"That is wholly unsubstantiated and completely untrue. Our decisions on appointments were based, rationally and fairly, on merit."
Reader views (16)
Here's a sample of the latest views published. You can click view all to read all views that readers have sent in.
Oh dear what a whimp! The traditional way of overcoming disappointment at being 'dipped' by a promotion board was to meet with your fellow losers in the pub, have a laugh and a drink, congratulate the 'winners' and say to fellow losers. "See you next year". Why does this nincompoop believe he is the one the board are fortunate to have before them? So far, he has had a good run and the odd setback might make him a better - and more humble - individual.
- Roy, Solihull, West Midlands
I wonder how many of the people contributing their comment against Mr Dizaei are current or previous serving police officers.
- Karl, London
Those of you who have made comment clearly did not read this story. What keeps this man from being qualified? According to the story, 1) ...he led one of the best performing boroughs in London and had been graded as "exceptional" in his personal performance assessment. 2) ...Mr Dizaei had completed his senior command course three years ago - achieving the highest marks - and yet has still not been promoted. 3) ...All nine other officers on the course have since been promoted to more senior roles. 4) ...In the last five years, there had been no promotions of senior black or Asian officers within the Met. Not to mention Mr. Dizaei was falsely accused of wrongdoing, and exonerated.
It appears that Mr. Dizaei is at least as qualified, if not more, than others who have been promoted, yet he has been continuously passed over? I don't believe it is Mr. Dizaei who has played the race card here.
I am a member of the National Black Police Association here in the States, as well as a law enforcement officer. Mr. Dizaei's story is one repeated over and over for officers all over the world. And your responses are the same ones that we hear when we protest wrongful treatment.
The truth of the matter: People of color are still marginalized and seen as less than, even when the proof indicates otherwise. Let's at least admit that truth, so that we can set up a forward-moving conversation that is inclusive of everyone.
- Sonia Pruitt, Maryland, USA
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