Morning:
11°c
Ghaffur case 'cost £1m but taught the Met nothing'
Danny Brierley26.11.08
TARIQUE Ghaffur's legal battle against the Met Police has cost London taxpayers £1million and has done nothing to tackle racism within the force, a key officer claimed today.
Commander Ali Dizaei, the head of the National Black Police Association which represented Mr Ghaffur, said legal fees and the £300,000 compensation deal agreed with the assistant commissioner would send the bill into seven digits.
As well as the high cost of the protracted case, Mr Dizaei said the deal will mean details of the falling-out with Commissioner Sir Ian Blair will be swept under the carpet and that lessons will not be learned.
Mr Dizaei, a commander with the Met, said the "operational costs" of defending Mr Ghaffur's claim that he was discriminated against included solicitors' and barristers' fees in preparation for a court action that will now never happen.
The NBPA is calling for an extensive review of the case amid claims that without the full extent of Mr Ghaffur's grievances being aired in a courtroom, history will repeat itself.
There have already been similar claims lodged by other Met police officers alleging they were discriminated against because of their ethnicity.
Mr Dizaei said: "No claimant wants to go to a court hearing if the matter can be resolved amicably. [Mr Ghaffur] and the Commissioner will be quite delighted that they do not have to battle this out over several weeks in a court room.
"But there will be no benefit out of this saga if there is no learning. There has to be a review."
Londoners will never know the contents of Mr Ghaffur's dossier of evidence against Sir Ian and the Met and why nothing was apparently done to resolve the conflict, he said.
Mr Dizaei added: "Why was the workplace conflict allowed to spiral out of control? Why was it managed in this way in the first place?
"Organisational learning must come out of this otherwise everybody will be left thinking, 'why did we do all this and how can we move forward?'
"We have had four months of turmoil, no answers and £1million will be spent."
The Met declined to comment on the matter, saying that the costs were a matter for the Metropolitan Police Authority, the body which holds the force to account.
The MPA is due to embark on a wide-ranging review of the way the Met deals with race and faith issues but its inquiry has not been linked to Mr Ghaffur's case.
The terms of the review, announced last month but not due to begin until January, will be discussed at a meeting tomorrow. It will be led by MPA member Cindy Butts, who today said: "The inquiry will focus on race and faith issues in the Met.
"Our aim is to find out how we can bring about real cultural change in the Met, encourage open dialogue about diversity and ensure that all employees feel secure and confident in their working environment."
Reader views (12)
Is promotion obligatory for ethnic minorities?,surely if he had sworn to serve the Queen and country he should be able to accept his position and get on with his job
- Linda, italy
Why are legal costs paid by the tax payer? If people want to sue their employers; they should be made to pay the legal expenses themselves. That might stop all these easy street racism cases.
- Brandon Thomas, London UK
These discriminisation laws are now just a cash cow for some members of society who feel diffrent and the legal profession. Marine Ben McBean lost an arm and a leg in Afghanistan and received £161,000. Could Mr Ghaffur please explain to me (as a tax payer) how he can justify receiving twice Mrine McBean payment - prehaps he should also expalin to Marine McBean and all the other wounded soldiers who have received alot less than he.
- Jeremy E, London
Get rid of ALL discrimination and PC-based laws. Discrimination exists as a fact of the human condition. As such, discriminatory legislation is distortion. I choose to buy the Evening Standard and not the Guardian, for example. Is there a law against this - yet?
- Gerald Baker, London, UK
Hopefully the Met will have learned not to employ any more vexatious, talentless charlatans, especially those who can rely upon twisted legislation to support their aims.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster
Why allow a black police association in the first place , if white officers were to have a white police officers association there would be uproar and it would be disbanded. This officer never complained as he was going up the ranks , it only comes when he thinks he is better than he is. He like all others who play the race card when they don't get what they want should grow up and accept it.
- Rosie, Grand Cayman
If the MBPA was so keen for the Met to learn and improve, it would be engaging with them more positively, encouraging non-white applicants rather than of all things a boycott, and diligently supporting those people in their jobs rather than focussing a few old boys grabbing negative headlines.
And most of all it could have persuaded Ghaffur - their most high profile advocate - that if there was indeed a higher principle at stake in his case (as Ghaffur originally made out) he should have stuck to it instead of taking the £300k and running.
The MBPA appears from this saga, to be ineffectual and spineless. They are not interested in the wider benefits to non-white Londoners in joining, or being served by, a more diverse police force.
- Colin, London UK
Once again a person of colour jumps on the "racism" gravy train.
Ghaffur was only using the racism tag for the money,otherwise he would have carried on with the case.
Why does a non white person always bring up the racism argument when a promotion or position is given to someone more qualified.They must accept that everyone should be teated the same and not be aware of colour.
- W.Fuller, Midsomer Norton, Somerset
Since when has(the currently suspended)Ali Dizaei been a 'key officer' in the Met. He has been a 'key officer' in creating situations where policing has taken a back seat whilst internal politics have become overwhelming. David Michaels, one of the creators of the MBPA, in a recent letter to a national newspaper was critical of the way the BPA has developed in recent years. Instead of representing rank and file ethnic police officers and staff it has been 'hijacked' to become a mouthpiece for a small number of vociferous, self opinionated, over promoted, single issue, politically inspired individuals. These individuals seem to care little about improving policing in the capital, and more about promoting their own agenda.
- Pip, Croydon Uk
Its terrible but true but Mr Ghaffur got to his position because of his race and not despite it. He is clearly a beneficary of positive descrimination in the past and if that has brought any balance to the Met with bringing other non-white recruits then that is fine. He himself should think himself lucky to get as a high up as he did so he can sellout for £300k.
- Richard, Stratford-Upon-Avon
Sounds very much as though Ghaffur's case was yet another "racist" money raising scam which has now been settled the way he wanted. No-one can "opt-out" of a prosecution, unless of course there is no case ! Wouldn't you like all that money and the fat pension which seems to be unaffected by this charade ?
- Sean, Coventry UK
It's increased rascism, well done tarik (name spelt without a capital 1st letter, as he commands no respect from me)
- P I Staker, London
