Asian policeman who won £300,000 in race payouts launches THREE more claims for compensation

An Asian police officer who has won more than £300,000 in three payouts from the Met over racial discrimination is today seeking more compensation, a week after his last victory.

Detective Sergeant Gurpal Virdi, who won an apology from former Met Commissioner Sir John Stevens, now claims he is being victimised after returning to work.

He claims that officers are determined to hold back his career.

He also has two further claims outstanding.

The 49-year-old Sikh, from west London, says he has been ostracised and that appraisals  -  on which a future bid for promotion would be based  -  did not reflect his work.

Last Tuesday Det Sgt Virdi, who has worked for the Met for 26 years and is in the Specialist Crime Directorate, won £70,400 in compensation after being passed over for promotion to detective inspector.

In August 2000, he was awarded £150,000 by another tribunal for racial discrimination when he was unfairly dismissed by the Met.

He had been wrongly accused of sending racist hate mail to other officers at Hanwell police station.

He was reinstated in 2002 and an internal inquiry found major failings in what was viewed as a landmark case in the police force.

Sir John Stevens apologised and ordered Det Sgt Virdi be paid a further £90,000 compensation for 'injury to his feelings'.

He was later awarded the Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal and was encouraged to apply for promotion but was not successful, a failure which eventually led to last week's victory.

Today's case in Central London Employment Tribunal in Holborn relates to the first four months after he returned to work last July.

His solicitor, Arpita Dutt, of Russell, Jones and Walker, said: 'It's not about the money  -  it's about what's happened.

'He believes he has been treated differently as a result of him bringing the most recent proceedings.

'This has resulted in him being held back in terms of career and development.

'He has tried to resolve that internally but to no avail and therefore feels he has no option but to return to the employment tribunal and challenge the organisation, expose the victimisation and gain justice which he feels he is not getting within the Metropolitan Police Service. We are confident of success.'

The Met said they would defend all claims made by Det Sgt Virdi.

A spokesman said Det Sgt Virdi had two more outstanding claims involving victimisation and race and disability discrimination.

They relate to failed promotion attempts in 2004-5 and 2007.

The first is due to come before a tribunal in September, with no date yet set for the second claim.