Morning:
8°c
Scotland Yard police chief Ali Dizaei is to face trial on criminal charges relating to a scuffle involving a hookah water pipe outside a London restaurant, it was announced today.
The Crown Prosecution Service recommended that the £90,000-a-year commander is charged with misconduct in a public office and perverting the course of justice — both offences carry possible life sentences.
The allegations relate to an incident last year in which Mr Dizaei handcuffed Waad Al-Baghdadi outside the Yas Iranian restaurant in West Kensington after claiming he had assaulted him with part of a hookah, or “hubble-bubble” pipe.
Mr Dizaei, 47, one of Britain's most senior Muslim officers, was suspended by the Metropolitan Police Authority. He is expected to be formally charged when he attends a London police station with his solicitor today.
This is the second time that the police chief has faced trial for misconduct and perverting the course of justice. He was cleared unanimously by an Old Bailey jury in 2003. Mr Dizaei, chairman of the National Black Police Association, won compensation, an apology from the Met and was promoted to the rank of Commander.
Mr Dizaei was said to have greeted the decision with some resignation this morning. He is said to have told friends: “It's the same offences as before, it's another trip to the Old Bailey.” In fact, legal sources say the trial is expected to be heard at Southwark crown court.
Today's CPS decision followed an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission and was approved personally by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Keir Starmer.
Mr Dizaei is being represented by Michael Mansfield QC, who is returning to the criminal courts from retirement. Mr Dizaei is still facing two further inquiries into claims of misconduct.
Today Alfred John, chairman of the Metropolitan Black Police Association, said the CPS decision was “outrageous” and the result of “personal vendettas”. He said: “The National Black Police Association and the Metropolitan Black Police Association fully support Commander Dizaei during the course of this prosecution.
“There is clear disproportionality involving the way senior officers of visible ethnic minorities are treated within the Met. Other officers have been accused of far worse things but have not even been suspended.”
Solicitor Gaon Hart, of the CPS Special Crime Division, said today that the charges faced by Mr Dizaei related to an incident in which the police commander, in his capacity as a police officer, arrested a man on allegations including assault. He said: “A decision not to charge that individual was made by the CPS in August 2008. Following an investigation by the IPCC, a file was submitted to me in November 2008. I asked the IPCC to undertake further inquiries and I received the results of those inquiries this month.”
Outside the restaurant Mr Dizaei became involved in a row with 23-year-old web designer Mr Al-Baghdadi and accused him of assaulting him with the mouthpiece of a hookah.
Mr Al-Baghdadi complained about his arrest and Scotland Yard asked the Independent Police Complaints Commission to investigate. The IPCC interviewed several witnesses and examined CCTV evidence.
Mr Dizaei was once tipped to become one of Scotland Yard's most senior ethnic minority officers. He was born in Tehran in 1962 and after moving to Britain he embarked on a career with Thames Valley police in 1987 after leaving City University Law School.
The Metropolitan Police Authority said today Mr Dizaei remained suspended from his post as commander in charge of west London boroughs. The decision leaves the Met with just one ethnic minority officer of ACPO rank.
