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Always controversial, the arrogant copper who divided and ruled
Paul Cheston, Courts Correspondent8 Feb 2010
Ali Dizaei is unquestionably the most controversial policeman in modern British history.
Never has such a senior officer been subjected to such forensic investigation by his fellow officers – and the media.
In a force trying to shake off its tag as “institutionally racist”, Ali Dizaei divided opinion straight down the race divide. No wonder he entitled his autobiography “Not One Of Us”.
But then there are not many coppers like Dizaei, least of all those fitting the stereotypes such as the fictional Gene Hunt from the TV show Life on Mars or the cast of the Bill.
Born in Iran in 1962 with dual nationality, Dizaei's family was steeped in policing – his father headed the Tehran traffic police.
He joined Thames Valley Police after attending boarding school and City University Law School.
As politicians and senior officers worked hard to increase the number of ethnic minority recruits, Dizaei found himself fast-tracked through the ranks.
A race advisor to the Home Secretary, he came to London as the protege of then Met commissioner Lord Condon and was promoted to superintendent operations based in Kensington.
It was the year the force was accused of institutional racism after the inquiry into the handling of the murder of Stephen Lawrence.
Dizaei's rapid success quickly became a symbol for ethnic minority policing and he was tipped to become the country's first black chief constable but his arrogance and haughty attitude was making enemies among some colleagues.
There were increasing questions about his smart clothes and glitzy lifestyle and his chippy manner was causing waves, particularly his repeated criticism of the Yard hierarchy in his role as president of the National Black Police Association.
The rumours gathered momentum and the Yard launched what turned out to be a disastrous investigation into Dizaei – Operation Helios – involving corruption, bribes, drugs, prostitutes and even spying for Iran.
At its height 50 officers were tied up in a £7 million investigation which included taping 3,500 of his private phone calls.
Suspended in January 2001, he was finally cleared at the Old Bailey of perverting the course of justice and misconduct in public office in September 2003.
In the end the charges included nothing more serious than submitting false mileage expense claims.
An inquiry by Lord Morris found the operation disproportionate, unfocused and influenced by Dizaei's ethnic background. The Independent Police Complaints Commission called it fatally flawed.
He lodged a racial discrimination complaint against the Yard and, in a deal, was awarded £80,000 and a formal apology by new Commissioner Sir Ian Blair.
Returning to work he was promoted to Chief Superintendent in 2004 but refused to temper his forthright NBPA views – including pledging his full support for Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur in his race discrimination claim against Sir Ian.
On a personal level he could be charming and articulate but there was a darker side exposed by tape recordings which emerged during his Old Bailey trial in which he launched an angry tirade against a girlfriend called Mandy who had just dumped him.
In a menacing phone call he told her: “I will take such revenge from you that, like a dog, you will be sorry that you will never treat me like this again.”
He continues: “You are not safe. I am going to come and catch you, on my mother's life. You want war, bitch, you're going to get some war.”
But the “Dizaei problem” as it became known to senior Yard officers may not have gone away completely.
He is still under investigation for allegedly providing improper advice to a solicitor defending a woman accused of a fatal hit-and-run.
He has also filed a race claim accusing the Met of “systematic” discrimination.
Reader views (2)
Good riddance, the Met must be breathing a sigh of relief to get rid of this disgraceful individual.
- Simon, Beckenham, UK, 08/02/2010 22:11
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an example of trust being put in a totally unsuitable person,bringing their own version of policing,s'posed to uphold law actually mocking it,the lowest of the low,should be stripped of all rights ,benefits,and deported back to Iran,and not taint this country any longer.
- Pete, Bath England, 08/02/2010 17:21
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