Most senior Asian officer plunges Met into

[chemical-licker]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10...-Ian-Blair.html

Most senior Asian officer plunges Met into crisis with £1m race claim against Sir Ian Blair

Mr Ghaffur claims he has been treated less favourably than other officers because he is Muslim and Asian

Scotland Yard was in turmoil last night after the country's most senior Asian officer launched a £1million-plus action for compensation.

Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur, 53, claims he has been the victim of racial, religious and age discrimination in legal papers lodged at an employment tribunal yesterday.

Yet despite his unprecedented bid for damages, Mr Ghaffur insists he should continue to work alongside the senior colleagues he accuses, including Met chief Sir Ian Blair.

Privately, a number of senior police figures believe the Ugandan-born policeman should be transferred to another job outside the Met or put on 'gardening leave' pending the outcome of his case.

But officials at the Metropolitan Police Authority - the body that oversees the running of Britain's biggest force - have been warned that Mr Ghaffur could claim even more money for ' victimisation' if he is removed from his job against his will.

However a number of senior colleagues believe it is no longer possible to work closely with him.

They believe there has been an irretrievable breakdown in trust, which jeopardises open debate and the decision-making process at confidential meetings.

Three times a week Mr Ghaffur attends a senior management team meeting chaired by Sir Ian, where sensitive matters relating to policing and confidential operations are discussed.

Sir Ian's deputy, Sir Paul Stephenson and Britain's counter terrorism chief, Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick, are among those who attend the meetings.

Never before has such a senior officer sued any force.

Twice-married Mr Ghaffur accuses Sir Ian of plotting to oust him and discriminating against him on the grounds of race, religion and age.

Sir Ian Blair: Formally issued with a race claim

According to sources close to his legal team, Mr Ghaffur claims he has been treated less favourably than other officers because he is Muslim and Asian.

He also alleges that his employers refused to extend his contract beyond a year because he is aged over 50, and is angry that he has been sidelined from a key role overseeing security for the London Olympics in 2012.

Mr Ghaffur is said to have a dossier of papers purporting to prove that he was the victim of a hate campaign. Some allegatigations refer directly to the actions of the Met Commissioner, whom he claims has plotted to undermine and oust him since replacing former commissioner Lord Stevens in 2005'

The papers also allege that Mr Ghaffur was 'spied on' by police during an ill-fated investigation into disgraced Met Commander, Ali Dizaei.

The case is expected to go to an employment tribunal in the next year. Legal sources said witnesses likely to be called 'read like a Who's Who' of the Met, including Lord Stevens, Deputy Commissioner Sir Paul and former deputy assistant commissioner Brian Paddick.

There is mounting fury at New Scotland Yard that Mr Ghaffur should seek massive damages for alleged discrimination.

As an Assistant Commissioner in the Met, he jointly holds the third most senior rank in British policing, more prestigious than that of a provincial chief constable, and earns £180,000 a year.

Having served more than 30 years, he is eligible to retire immediately and receive a lump sum payout of £522,000 and an index-linked pension of £85,000 a year.

Eyebrows have also been raised at some of the comments of Mr Ghaffur's lawyer, Dr Shahrokh Mireskandari.

In an extraordinary rant earlier this week, the Iranian-born lawyer - a senior partner in a little known West End firm - said: 'They (the Met) are unhappy because we are running rings around them.'

Of the compensation demand, Dr Mireskandari said: 'It is a massive claim that could destroy the Commissioner and his golden circle.'

Father-of-two Mr Ghaffur confirmed through his office last night that he intends to remain at his desk.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the force was not aware any papers had been lodged.

Sir Ian's Trials

In addition to the case of Tarique Ghaffur, pictured, Sir Ian Blair is at the centre of three other controversial cases.

Within the next two weeks, an employment tribunal will rule whether another of his senior Asian officers, Commander Shabir Hussain, has been racially discriminated against by the Met.

Mr Hussain, 45, has demanded £750,000 after being allegedly snubbed for promotion. He claims Sir Ian favours white officers in his 'golden circle'.

Next month will bring the long-awaited inquest into the death of innocent Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes in July 2005. Insiders believe that if the inquest rules that Mr de Menezes was killed unlawfully as a result of systemic failures by the Met, Sir Ian would almost certainly have to quit.

Sir Ian is also being investigated over the awarding of a series of Met contracts worth £3million to a friend. One contract, worth about £150,000, was awarded to Andy Miller's consultancy despite a credible rival bidder offering to do it for a third of the price.

tax payers footing the bill again this is just laughable.

im going to make a claim, i read this and it upset me £100,000 claim im disturbed for life, hand over the cash

[stevewinn]

tax payers footing the bill again this is just laughable.

im going to make a claim, i read this and it upset me £100,000 claim im disturbed for life, hand over the cash

me to

[itsnotoutthere]

If there is such a thing as reincarnation, then i'm gonna come back as an unemployed disabled pregnant gay black muslim transexual immigrant with tourrets. I think i've covered all the bases.

[chemical-licker]

If there is such a thing as reincarnation, then i'm gonna come back as an unemployed disabled pregnant gay black muslim transexual immigrant with tourrets. I think i've covered all the bases.

think i dated one of those

[Plainbob13]

So. What this guy wanted his Butt kissed because he's asian and mulsim? That just sad.

[chaoszerg]

This is getting annoying. People are just shouting Racist all the time now because they know it makes most people jump. It was tried many times on me when at my work and it backfired because I just claimed they were racist for thinking that because I am white guy that I am automatically racist.

I hate people who always play the race card, they know the PC brigade will come running kissing their butts.

[Bill Hill]

oMG I think Ian Blair is a racist

ah ha ah ironic Justice; he who lives by the political correct sword shall die by it.

As for the Asian Officer.. He's just a typical p*** taker...

He's a traitor to his race..because thes type of people put more strain on race relations.

Like... why bother?

[Plainbob13]

The only thing that story is missing is Al Sharptons *******ed butt.

[chemical-licker]

Like... why bother?

good point hes got a good job and money, must be good too, this sort of thing will put pressure on race relations, good point bill hill

[InHuman]

I'm brown, angry, and quick to call people racist.... WHERE'S MY MILLIONZ!?!?!?!???

EDIT: FWI, I ain't gonna jump to any conclusions yet, first of all I only skimmed the article, the guy might have a point, but 1 million HAS to be an overstatment considering he already has a job (wasn't fired was he?)

Edited August 23, 2008 by InHuman

[GreyWeather]

Everyone knows the game he's trying to play.

...And no doubt he gets his millions >.> .

[bee]

im going to make a claim, i read this and it upset me £100,000 claim

Yes...I was a bit annoyed for a couple of minutes...got to be worth £25,000...where do I claim.?

Oh...and I'm demanding 99p from YOU, chemical-licker...cus you posted it. A cheque will do...

[Stardrive]

Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur, 53, claims he has been the victim of racial, religious and age discrimination in legal papers lodged at an employment tribunal yesterday.

He certainly covered all the angles. Another case of "get your money for nothin and the chicks are free".

Outta be a law against that

[__Kratos__]

Race row policeman Tarique Ghaffur told to ‘shut up’ and get on with his job

The country’s most senior Asian policeman was told by his superiors last night to “shut up” and get on with his job after publicly announcing that he was suing Scotland Yard for racism.

Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur was rebuked after appearing before TV cameras in full uniform to accuse Sir Ian Blair, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, of subjecting him to years of racial discrimination.

Within two hours the Met’s Deputy Commissioner responded angrily. Sir Paul Stephenson said: “I think it is long past time that we all shut up, stop making public statements about private disputes and get on with the job we are paid to do.”

The Times understands that the Yard’s lawyers are examining whether Mr Ghaffur’s behaviour amounts to insubordination. Questions are also being asked by his colleagues about whether he can continue to sit with them on the Met’s senior management board, which directs police strategy in the capital.

Yesterday’s bitter exchanges followed months of backbiting and infighting at Scotland Yard and made the internal civil war a public affair.

More of the article here: Link

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[stevewinn]

**** him off a disgrace to the uniform, hes confused, he must think he's part of the Pakistani police force the way hes conducting himself, cant someone push him over a ticket barrier and finish him off.

[1.618]

Okay, if i've read the article correctly, the asian officer has served for 30 years and only now is claiming that he has been discriminated against. He's either a) a tad on the slow side and unworthy of consideration for promotion or taking the p1ss. Mmmmmm.

[ships-cat]

It does rather seem as%2

Edited August 31, 2008 by ships-cat

[chemical-licker]

Yes...I was a bit annoyed for a couple of minutes...got to be worth £25,000...where do I claim.?

Oh...and I'm demanding 99p from YOU, chemical-licker...cus you posted it. A cheque will do...

im sorry, give me ya bank details