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Black police leader joins race attack on Met chief
Rob Singh, Crime Reporter27 Jun 2008
A black police leader today said he had to take a "deep breath" as he learned details of allegations made by Scotland Yard assistant commissioner Tarique Ghaffur against the Met.
Commander Ali Dizaei said he was "shocked" at the "unequivocal" evidence gathered by Mr Ghaffur which focuses on the conduct of Commissioner Sir Ian Blair.
Mr Ghaffur, Britain's most senior Asian officer, is considering taking Sir Ian to an industrial tribunal, claiming he has been the victim of racism, bullying and victimisation. Mr Dizaeis-spokesman for the Black Police Association, said: "He is a very loyal person and extremely competent. For a person of his character to embark on this course of action - I think he is at the end of his tether."
Asked if this was simply a row over a missed opportunity for promotion, Mr Dizaei said: "The evidence presented to us yesterday was not about promotion at all. It was about the way he was dealt with around the Olympic issue, the way he has been dealt with generally. Some of the evidence was unequivocal."
Mr Dizaei called for a "summit" between senior officers, representatives of the Home Office and members of the Home Affairs Select Committee.
MP Keith Vaz, chair of the select committee, said the row was "very disappointing". He added: "What has changed since the Stephen Lawrence issue is black and Asian officers are now willing to challenge for the highest jobs in the police service.
"A number of these officers will feel they are discriminated against. That is why we need to get to the root of things and put things right."
Mr Vaz said MPs would quiz Police Minister Tony McNulty over the issue at the meeting of the committee next week. He said: "It certainly needs intervention, if not from a Minister then from the Mayor of London."
Mr Ghaffur's dossier also names police authority chairman Len Duvall. He andSir Ian both strongly deny behaving inappropriately.
Mr Ghaffur, who is responsible for security at the 2012 Olympics, is undestood to believe he was sidelined in preparations for the Games as he was not asked to attend key meetings.
He revealed his dossier to the Black Police Association after being summoned to face Sir Ian. Relations between the pair are said to have broken down to such an extent that they will only speak at formal meetings.
Sir Ian was forced to defend his record on diversity at a meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority. He said: "I have a long, honourable and occasionally blood-stained record on the championing of diversity - not perfect but always principled and persistent."
He also warned that Mr Ghaffur could be fired and said he would deal with officers that did not work to his directions "robustly and quickly".
The Commissioner does not have the power to sack Mr Ghaffur but he could refer the matter to the MPA.
London Mayor Boris Johnson said today he had spoken to Sir Ian over the row and added: "This is a matter for Sir Ian and I am sure he sort it out speedily."
Asked if it was unfair for Sir Ian to be accused of racism, he replied: "I am sure that is unfair yes."
