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Failed race-claim officer is shortlisted for promotion
Justin Davenport11.03.09
A senior Asian police officer who last year lost a case of race discrimination against Scotland Yard has been short-listed for promotion.
Commander Shabir Hussain, 45, is one of 10 candidates vying for a post of Deputy Assistant Commissioner at the Yard.
Last year he took the Metropolitan Police Force to a tribunal claiming that he had been repeatedly overlooked for senior jobs and that a "golden circle" of favoured candidates was groomed for promotion and received preferential treatment.
He also claimed that official guidelines on awarding promotion, followed by other forces, were ignored in the Metropolitan Police.
However, an employment tribunal rejected his claims saying that there was no evidence of a "golden circle" of officers.
Mr Hussain's case was one of a series of race claims brought against former commissioner Sir Ian Blair in his last months at the helm. Former assistant commissioner and Britain's leading Asian policeman, Tarique Ghaffur, also accused Sir Ian of being racist although he later withdrew the claim and settled for £300,000.
Mr Hussain, speaking after he had lost his case, denied his action had anything to do with Mr Ghaffur's case.
He said: "My action was about me - all I was looking for was old-fashioned fairness." He added that he had wanted to highlight what he believed were shortcomings in the Met's promotion process.
The Met is still facing claims that black and ethnic minority officers find it more difficult than white officers to gain promotion.
Mayor Boris Johnson has ordered an inquiry into the concerns which is currently taking evidence from ethnic minority officers.
One black police leader said recently that the Met still had the same number of ethnic minority officers as it did 10 years ago when a report accused the force of being institutionally racist.
Mr Hussain faces competition from both internal and external candidates for the post of Deputy Assistant Commissioner.
Final interviews for the post are being held this week.
Reader views (8)
"One black police leader said ... the Met still had the same number of ethnic minority officers as it did 10 years ago ..."
Then I suggest he take that issue up with the MBPA. They are responsible for recruitment drives. They are also responsible for recently calling for a ban on ethnics joining the force. Go figure.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
The job of police officers is to prevent crime, if you want to earn lots of money,
become a criminal.
- Martin, Bracknell England
Shame the police is never in the news with actually catching criminals.
- Jacqueline, Hampstead, London
Exactlt Mr.Staker! Can somebosy also explain to all these Policemen that their main concern shold be preventing crime, not advancing their own careers. How much time has been spent on prosecuting and defending these claims?
- Mark, London
It is amazing how this police circus keeps getting worse and worse. I think it is time Boris gets involved and fires these time-wasters. Crime is growing and we need stricter policing!!
- Georgie, Islington, London
You have to obey the orders of your senior, irespective of getting promotion throuhg court. Every department has own system so work hard and be patient. Honesty is the best policy.
- M A Sular, London
In the Asian countries I have been employed in, its very hard to even keep your existing job against a background of real racist attitudes let alone hope for promotion.
- Fred, Horsham
Ask yourself this question if you took your employer to court in the private sector (the one that creates money) would you get offered a promotion after?
- P Staker, London
