Wednesday - June 04, 2008

Third payout from Scotland Yard in race prejudice case.  (and ALL by the same guy!)

(Racially approved)

Cop wins third payout from Scotland Yard in race prejudice case
By Richard Edwards, Crime Correspondent
Last Updated: 3:40PM BST 04/06/2008

An Asian police officer who was twice paid compensation for racial discrimination from Scotland Yard has won a third five-figure payout - and launched a further two complaints.

Det Sgt Gurpal Virdi was this week awarded £70,400 for victimisation after he was passed over for promotion for having exposed race prejudice at the Metropolitan police.

It takes the total he has won from the force to more than £300,000 and the Sikh officer is seeking further compensation in two more tribunal claims in the next three months.

After winning the case, Sgt Virdi, 49, urged Commissioner Sir Ian Blair to take tough measures to stamp out discrimination in the force, saying that “no amount of training appears to be working”.

Mr Virdi, who joined the Met as a PC in May 1982, was awarded £150,000 by a tribunal in August 2000 for race discrimination after he was unfairly dismissed from the force. He had been sacked after being wrongly accused of sending racist hate mail to black and Asian officers at Hanwell police station.

He was reinstated in February 2002 and an internal investigation found major mistakes had been made in what was seen as a landmark case in race relations within the police service.

Sir John Stevens, then Commissioner, apologised and agreed Mr Virdi should be paid another £90,000 in an out-of-court settlement by the force for “injury to his feelings”.

On his return to duty, he worked for assistant commissioner Tarique Ghaffur, the Met’s most senior Asian officer, on community issues and policy.

In 2005, encouraged by senior officers, he applied for promotion to detective inspector at a time when the Met had a shortage.

He was endorsed by his line manager and it was agreed that he satisfied all the official criteria. But he was turned down by a review panel and his appeal was rejected.

In its judgment on liabilty, the tribunal ruled that Mr Virdi’s promotion application was treated differently to that of someone who had not taken legal action against the force.

It said the process was “shoddily operated” and noted that he was now unlikely to get another chance of promotion before he retires.

Mr Virdi’s award included £61,621 for loss of earnings and pension and £8,780 for injury to feelings.

Speaking after his latest award, Sgt Virdi said: “If Sir Ian Blair is serious about tackling victimisation and discrimination in the ranks of the Met, then he must take some form of disciplinary action as no amount of training appears to be working.

“Having spent nearly ten years fighting discrimination in the Met, I am delighted that the tribunal has once again decided in my favour. With four years left to serve, I am looking forward to continuing my career with a unblemished record.”

Mr Virdi is involved in two more employment tribunals, including a fresh victimisation claim next week alleging that he was ostracised on his return to work and his appraisal downgraded.

In September a tribunal will decide on allegations that he has also been the victim of bullying.

Sarah Drury, vice chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said: “We hope the Met will learn the lessons and treat all officers in a fair and transparent manner.”

While winning the victimisation claim against the Met, Mr Virdi failed in a claim of race discrimination. Scotland Yard is appealing the tribunal’s decision on victimisation.
http://tinyurl.com/4ungl6

Posted by Drew458     on 06/04/2008 at 12:00 PM   
Filed Under: • Racism and race relations • UK •  
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