Race-claim police chief accepts out-of-court settlement

Published on Tuesday 25 November 2008 20:59

BRITAIN'S most senior Asian police officer agreed an out-of-court settlement yesterday in his racial discrimination claim against Scotland Yard.

Tarique Ghaffur, an assistant commissioner with the Metropolitan Police, will receive a pay-off of about 300,000 and his full pension after 34 years in policing, it is understood.

A secret deal was finally signed off after weeks of behind-the-scenes legal wrangling between Mr Ghaffur and representatives of the force.

Mr Ghaffur has withdrawn his claims that Commissioner Sir Ian Blair and a second senior officer acted in a racist or discriminatory way towards him, a Metropolitan Police Authority spokesman said.

He has also signed a gagging clause and will step down from his role tomorrow.

Mr Ghaffur was effectively suspended in September after announcing he was suing his employer for racial discrimination. He claimed he had been sidelined, discriminated against and humiliated in his role as the head of security planning for the 2012 Olympic Games.

He blamed Sir Ian and claimed to have compiled a damning dossier of evidence.

The allegations led to a boycott of ethnic minority recruitment by the Metropolitan Black Police Association.

Since then, Sir Ian has announced he is stepping down from his post as of 1 December.