Sir Ian Blair warns Muslim race row officer to step into line

Sir Ian Blair publicly warned the country’s top Muslim police officer to step into line yesterday over his racial discrimination claims.

The Scotland Yard Commissioner said every member of his force must ‘work to my direction’ or be dealt with ‘robustly and quickly’.

Sir Ian spoke out before holding crisis talks with Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur who, according to friends, is on the brink of launching a claim for compensation at an employment tribunal.

Mr Ghaffur has the backing of the National Black Police Association (NBPA), who say Mr Ghaffur was treated 'extremely poorly'.

In a strongly-worded statement, Sir Ian – regarded by his critics as the country’s most politically correct police chief – defended his record on diversity.

He told a meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority that any suggestion he would not speak to Mr Ghaffur was ‘complete nonsense’.

‘I believe I have a long, honourable and occasionally blood- stained record on the championing of diversity – not perfect but always principled and persistent,’ said Sir Ian.

‘I hope that this will be resolved satisfactorily between us but will state here publicly that every member of the Met works to my direction and must meet my reasonable requirements. Any other position is impossible. If that does not occur, I will deal with the matter robustly and quickly. I look to the support of the authority to that end.’

Mr Ghaffur, who has consulted a top QC, reportedly feels he has been sidelined by Sir Ian, who switched him to a less prestigious job after the two men clashed bitterly two years ago.

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He is said to feel his role as head of security preparations for the 2012 Olympics has also been undermined. He also complains that his contract was renewed for only one year, unlike fellow top-level officers.

Members of the NBPA last night backed Mr Ghaffur and called on Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to intervene in the row.

Mr Ghaffur revealed documents supporting his claim of racial discrimination to a meeting of the NBPA executive.

The group, led by Metropolitan Police Commander Ali Dizaei, said it was 'totally and utterly convinced' the claim was legitimate. Among the documents were believed to be allegations of victimisation by Commissioner Sir Ian Blair and Police Authority chair Len Duvall.

An NBPA spokesman said: 'The National Black Police Association have held a formal meeting with Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur.

'Having reviewed the evidence we are astonished at the amount of material which was presented to us in support of his case. Assistant Commissioner Ghaffur appears to have been treated extremely poorly.

'We are totally and utterly convinced of the legitimacy of this claim and will be fully supporting Mr Ghaffur with regard to this matter, together with the 43 local BPAs around the country. We are calling for an immediate intervention at a senior governmental level to prevent this dispute escalating.'

News that £180,000-a-year Mr Ghaffur was in the final stages of launching an action emerged on Wednesday, although he denied being behind the leak.

Senior officers accused the National Black Police Association, which has publicly backed Mr Ghaffur’s claim, of being responsible.

One source said: ‘There was nothing accidental about this leak. It was bully-boy tactics.’

Despite Sir Ian’s warning, Mr Ghaffur appeared firm in his resolve to keep his grip on overseeing security for the Olympics.

He said: ‘I have the great privilege in working with hundreds of police officers in making London safer. Those officers day in and day out are brilliant. I have a great privilege working with communities and I’ve done a great amount in relation to the Olympics so I intend to continue doing that.’

It is the second time this week that a senior officer has levelled claims of racism against the Metropolitan Police. Commander Shabir Hussain, 45, accused Sir Ian of excluding black and Asian detectives in favour of a ‘golden circle’ of white officers.