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Met chief in race battle
Justin Davenport, Evening Standard25.06.08
Britain's most senior Muslim police officer is preparing a race claim against Scotland Yard.
Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur is consulting lawyers over the possibility of taking the Met to an employment tribunal, sources said today.
The shock development will be a major blow to Commissioner Sir Ian Blair who has already been accused of racism by another senior officer at an industrial tribunal in London. Sir Ian intends to deny the claims at that hearing.
Sources said Mr Ghaffur is considering launching the action because of concerns that he had been sidelined.
The 53-year-old officer has been in charge of the policing plan for the London Olympics but recently the overall strategy for the event has been taken over by the Home Office.
The Met have also refused to extend his contract as Assistant Commissioner beyond a one-year term, even though he has made it clear he wants to deliver the plan for the 2012 Games.
President of the National Black Police Association, Ali Dizaei, said: "It will be a sad day for the police service if one of the UK's most respected senior ethnic minority police officers is forced to challenge his treatment." Mr Ghaffur refused to comment on the claims today.
