Asian policeman suing Scotland Yard

Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur will lodge formal papers outlining his complaints with an employment tribunal.

Solicitors acting on behalf of the senior officer informed the Metropolitan Police of the move.

It came after behind-the-scenes mediation talks broke down in a row over who would foot the bill.

The decision leaves Commissioner Sir Ian Blair facing a painful legal showdown with one of his closest colleagues.

Mr Ghaffur sparked a damaging race row last month after it emerged he was preparing to sue his force.

Colleagues said evidence of bullying, discrimination and victimisation against the senior Asian officer was compelling.

They said the officer, who is responsible for Olympic security preparations, had been treated extremely poorly.

Mr Ghaffur was said to have compiled a dossier detailing what he claims is victimisation by Sir Ian and Police Authority chairman Len Duvall. Both men denied in the strongest terms that they had behaved inappropriately in any way.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said senior officers regret Mr Ghaffur's decision to withdraw from mediation and go to a tribunal.