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Met chief accused of sidelining black and Asian police officers
Met chief Sir Ian Blair has been accused of sidelining black and Asian officers to surround himself with a "golden circle" of hand-picked, white favourites.
- Evening Standard
- Published: 00:01 June 25, 2008
- Met chief Sir Ian Blair has been accused of sidelining black and Asian officers to surround himself with a "golden circle" of hand-picked, white favourites.
- Image Credit: Bloomberg News
London: Met chief Sir Ian Blair has been accused of sidelining black and Asian officers to surround himself with a "golden circle" of hand-picked, white favourites.
A race discrimination tribunal heard Britain's highest ranking officer uses his "very significant influence" to earmark chosen officers for promotion over other candidates.
Traffic commander Shabir Hussain told the hearing in Stratford that because he was Asian he was not one of the commissioner's "favourite sons and daughters", and that others less qualified had been promoted above his head. Promotions are decided by the independent Metropolitan Police Authority but Commander Hussain told his employment tribunal: "Promotion to the highest ranks of the Met appears to operate by the earmarking of a golden circle of preferred candidates for promotion.
"Ian Blair in particular seems to have his favourite sons and daughters who he sponsors for promotion. I believe I was excluded from the golden circle because my face did not fit, and that my face did not fit because I am not white."
The 45-year-old officer was once tipped to become Britain's first Asian chief constable. He is seeking to prove he was the victim of direct race discrimination from the MPA, its chairman Len Duvall and Sir Ian.
He joined the force in 1999 and was appointed Scotland Yard's first Asian superintendent.
He said: "I was misled about potential vacancies as a chief inspector, which were reserved for white officers. When I was promoted to superintendent officers wasted no time to complain about me.
"At the strategic command course I was assaulted and advised to leave the country after the 9/11 attacks."
Commander Hussain applied to become deputy assistant commissioner four times between 2003 and 2007. He said he was only moved sideways to become director of training at Hendon, a "career graveyard".
One of those promoted over him was Cressida Dick in 2006, despite her role in the disastrous operation which led to the shooting of innocent Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes in Stockwell the previous year.
In 2006 commander Hussain said he complained to Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur, Britain's most senior Muslim officer, who, he said, told him that he had also faced problems over promotion because of Sir Ian and the MPA's former chairman, Len Duvall.
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