Race claim: Tarique Ghaffur

A former senior officer at Scotland Yard last night said the growing compensation culture in the police is a threat to the force’s stability.

Alan Given spoke out as his former colleague, Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur, made final preparations to sue for racial discrimination.

Mr Ghaffur, who is Britain’s most senior Asian policeman, is expected to formally launch legal proceedings against the Metropolitan Police and its Commissioner Sir Ian Blair by the end of the week.

Latest figures reveal 117 Employment Tribunal cases were lodged against the Met in 2007/08 – up from 85 in the previous financial year.

Mr Given, a former Met Deputy Assistant Commissioner until he retired two years ago, said: ‘Any system which allows for a grievance to be made against an employer is open to abuse.

‘The rise of the compensation culture does tend to destabilise an organisation. If people look for something for nothing, it encourages other people to do the same, creating a very dangerous and hostile environment.’

Sources close to Mr Ghaffur, 53, have claimed he alleges more than 30 examples of racial discrimination at the top of Scotland Yard and the Home Office, including a claim that he was unfairly sidelined from his role overseeing security for the 2012 London Olympics.

The Ugandan-born officer, who earns £180,000 a year, is also unhappy that Sir Ian has decided not to renew his contract next

March. But his decision to go public with his grievances has infuriated senior colleagues who believe it is hugely divisive and sets a bad example to junior officers.

Mr Given said: ‘There is a defined and clear process for raising a grievance in the Met. If someone has got a complaint, it should be investigated privately.

‘To step outside of the established process is extremely damaging, doing a disservice to both Mr Ghaffur and the Met. It is trial by media.’ Mr Given praised Sir Ian’s commitment to creating a more diverse police force and added: ‘Tarique has reached the third most senior rank in policing in the country.

‘The vast majority of police officers would say he has done very well indeed and been given a very fair crack of the whip.

‘Watching from the outside, they must be looking on with incredulity that someone who has achieved so much is taking this course of action.’ Yesterday, Mr Ghaffur’s lawyer accused the Met of trying to remove him from his client’s case.

Dr Shahrokh Mireskandari also accused them of trying the same tactic with Commander Ali Dizaei, the president of the National Black Police Association, which is representing Mr Ghaffur.

He said: ‘They (the Met) are unhappy because we are running rings around them.’

The Met rejected Dr Mireskandari’s claims.