Sir Ian Blair: I yelled at Asian cop but that doesn't make me racist

Britain's highest ranking police officer Sir Ian Blair today admitted to shouting at an Asian commander who is suing the Met for race discrimination.

The admission came as Sir Ian gave evidence at an employment tribunal where he was forced to defend his record on racism over claims he sidelined black and Asian officers.

But he said it was 'inconceivable' that he would have wrecked the promotion chances of ethnic minority officers to surround himself with a 'golden circle' of his favourites.

The embattled commissioner of the Metropolitan Police has faced a series of race claims in recent months and had to clear his diary this week to defend himself against claims of racial discrimination at the employment tribunal.

Commander Shabir Hussain, 45, one of Britain's most senior Asian officers, is seeking more than £500,000 in compensation over his claims he was ignored for promotion four times because 'my face did not fit, and it did not fit because I am not white'.

Sir Ian admitted that he had once raised his voice with Mr Hussain but he denied allegations he was racist.

He told the employment tribunal: 'There is no favoured few.

'I absolutely refute the suggestion that any racial motivation, any bias - conscious or unconscious - could possibly influence me in decisions I take and the discussions I have about senior postings.

'Every indication about my professional life as a senior police officer points in completely the opposite direction.'

The commissioner admitted he had once lost his temper with Mr Hussain during a meeting about the Met's new multi-billion pound command and control centre, when he raised a potential problem.

He said: 'I did say that I was not interested in someone just bringing a new problem to my table, I wanted a solution. I think Shabir persisted and I probably was pretty brusque.'

Sir Ian said he had raised his voice in a rare display of anger, but had apologised the next day by email.

And he said any claim that he had blocked Mr Hussain's promotion 'would be seen as an extraordinary aberration', adding: 'I refute it totally.'

Mr Hussain claims he was overlooked for promotion to the rank of deputy assistant commissioner four times between 2003 and 2007, and that other less qualified or experienced candidates were advanced instead.

He told the tribunal Sir Ian had used his 'very significant influence' to surround himself with his favoured officers, who would bolster his command.

The Pakistani-born officer said he was effectively sidelined by the commissioner, and is seeking to prove he was the victim of direct race discrimination by Sir Ian, the Metropolitan Police Authority and its chairman Len Duvall.

But Sir Ian insisted he had fought to increase diversity in the force and said it was 'incorrect and baseless' to suggest he had lobbied for his favourites to be promoted.

'I cannot imagine wishing so to damage the prospects of any minority candidate,' he told the tribunal in Stratford, East London.

'On the contrary, I have made clear my wish to increase the representation of ethnic minorities and other under-represented groups in all management and leadership positions.

'I believe the Metropolitan Police Service has a proud record of being a meritocracy in which passion for public service, experience and delivery are the keys.'

He said Mr Hussain had a good track record in his 25-year career and said he had praised him in assessments for promotion.

But he said Scotland Yard officers were fiercely competitive and said the Asian officer had come up against better candidates in his MPA interviews, adding: 'That is the nature of promotion competition.'

'There were other officers whose gradings and performance at interview were better,' he said.

'It is not - and in my experience never has been - based on race or gender.'
Sir Ian, who has frequently faced criticism that he is too influenced by political correctness, admitted he was amused when Mr Hussain said in 2001 that he aspired to become the commissioner.

He told the tribunal: 'It is a bold and unusual comment from a newly appointed commander with just 18 years service.'

The tribunal is one of a series of racism claims to hit the force in recent months.

Last 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.
But yesterday it emerged the Sikh officer has had his compensation revoked after Scotland Yard appealed against the ruling.

And Britain's highest profile Muslim officer, Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur, is preparing to sue Sir Ian for racial discrimination over claims he has been sidelined.

The three-week hearing continues.