Morning:
8°c
Met Police pays out £2m to staff as discrimination claims soar
Ruth Bloomfield12 Jun 2009
The Met has handed out £2million in out-of-court settlements to staff claiming discrimination in the past five years, figures reveal.
This raises fears of an increasing compensation culture in the force and has sparked calls for the rules surrounding employment tribunals to be changed.
The Home Office figures show in 2003/04 the Met made out-of-court settlements worth just over £350,000 to officers and other staff.
In 2007/08, the latest figures available, that had jumped to just under £520,000.
Claims of sexual discrimination have doubled during this later period and settlements involving other forms of discrimination - including sexual orientation, age and disability - have leaped to £324,000. But cases of racial discrimination have fallen steadily.
The figures do not include legal and administrative costs, which are likely to push the total even higher.
A police source said: "I think there are a number of officers who are jumping on the bandwagon and seeking easy money. While no doubt some officers have a point, some of these cases are pretty frivolous."
Today's figures show the level of payouts made following industrial tribunals is comparatively minimal, just £78,775 since 2003/04.
Peter Smyth, spokesman for the Metropolitan Police Federation, said: "If you go to a tribunal you have to pay your own costs, win or lose.
"The Met would rather give someone £5,000 than risk £30,000 in legal fees. The law is wrong. They ought to make the loser pay all the costs and that would stamp out cases that were not genuine."
Today's figures do not include the reported £300,000 paid to former Met assistant commissioner Tarique Ghaffur in an out-of-court settlement.
He claimed former Met Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair racially discriminated against him. Mr Ghaffur was suspended.
Following the settlement he retired and dropped the allegations, which had been denied by Sir Ian.
Also not included is the latest payout to Detective Sergeant Gurpal Virdi.
He had already won £240,000 in damages from the Met for race discrimination, but was awarded another £4,500 from the force last year after claiming it did not make allowances for his failing sight when taking police exams.
Reader views (7)
And how many of these claims were by white people? O yes I forgot, racism is a one way street here in the UK and white people only commit the offences, never are subjected to racism under this ultra left pc regime. Just an easy pay out for those who want it or who are not up to the job and the level of stress and commitment it requires.
- Dirk Diggler, Soho, London, 12/06/2009 23:16
Report abuse
Tough lot these some of these Coppers; if they sulk or have a tantrum; give them some more money.
Still if you want respect; it helps if you earn it.
- Mickyinlondon, london, 12/06/2009 11:38
Report abuse
That is very sad and it is clear that under this "government" the priority is not to have capable police men on the streets catching criminals it is this silly political correctness and paper targeting and shuffling.
- Peteo, London NW1, 12/06/2009 11:36
Report abuse
No more Nu Labor.
EDITED by admin @ 16.25 on June 12 2009
Racial/Religious
- Georgie, Islington, London, 12/06/2009 11:27
Report abuse
No luck with the lottery?Then just join the police,make up a pack of lies and sue the backside off them.Instant winner.
- Stephen, London, 12/06/2009 10:19
Report abuse
This is a tax payer funded, one way, cash cow for a select few.
- Jeremy E, Home Counties, 12/06/2009 09:49
Report abuse
Not the met police pay out "WE DO"
- Jones, Ealing, 12/06/2009 08:06
Report abuse
