Police chief Sir Ian Blair is 'biased against blacks and Asians', claims senior officer denied promotions

Britain's top police officer was yesterday accused of sidelining black and Asian detectives to surround himself with a 'golden circle' of handpicked favourites.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair uses his 'very significant influence' to earmark his chosen officers for promotion at the cost of other candidates, a race discrimination hearing was told.

Commander Shabir Hussain, 45, who was once tipped to become Britain's first Asian chief constable, said he was effectively victimised by Sir Ian's tactics and claimed he was ignored for promotion despite being more experienced and better qualified than other candidates.

Promotions are supposedly decided by the independent Metropolitan Police Authority.

But Mr Hussain told the employment tribunal: 'Promotion to the highest ranks of the Metropolitan Police Service appears to operate by the earmarking of a "golden circle" of preferred candidates for promotion.

'Ian Blair in particular seems to have his favourite sons and daughters, who he sponsors for promotion.

'I believe I was excluded from the golden circle because my face did not fit, and that my face did not fit because I am not white.'

His claim is the latest embarrassing blow for the embattled commissioner, who pledged to clamp down on racism in the force.

Earlier this month, Detective Sergeant Gurpal Virdi was awarded £70,400 in damages after a tribunal ruled he was passed over for promotion because of racial discrimination.

Mr Hussain is seeking to prove he was the victim of direct race discrimination from the MPA, its chairman Len Duvall and the commissioner.

His lawyers refused to reveal how much compensation he could claim if the employment tribunal rules in his favour.

Mr Hussain joined the Met as a constable in 1983 and was put on the force's accelerated promotion scheme.

By 1999, he was appointed as Scotland Yard's first Asian superintendent. He hoped to become commissioner one day but said his career had been harmed by racism.

He said: 'As a constable I received racist abuse from some colleagues and threats of violence culminating in an assault. I suffered racist graffiti when promoted to sergeant.

'I was misled about potential vacancies as a chief inspector, which were reserved for white officers.

'When I was promoted to superintendent, officers wasted no time to complain about me.

Sir Ian Blair has been accused of side-lining black and Asian detectives

'At the strategic command course I was assaulted and advised to leave the country after the 9/11 attacks.'

Mr Hussain applied to become a deputy assistant commissioner four times between 2003 and 2007, but said he was moved sideways to become director of training at Hendon in North London, which he described as a 'career graveyard'.

'It is unprecedented for an officer to have four failed applications for promotion from commander to deputy assistant commissioner,' he said.

'White officers with potential always succeed on their first or second attempt.'

One of the officers promoted over him in 2006 was Cressida Dick, despite her role in the disastrous police operation in which Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes was shot dead in South London in 2005.

She served with Sir Ian in a previous role at Thames Valley Police, as had a previous successful applicant, the employment tribunal in Stratford, East London, heard.

Under cross-examination, Mr Hussain admitted he did already hold a senior position among the top ranks of the force.

The Met, the MPA and Mr Duvall deny Mr Hussain's claims and have previously insisted the promotion system is 'robust, transparent and scrupulously fair'.

The hearing continues.