Asian lawyer tells tribunal the CPS sent him racist hate mail

A senior Asian lawyer alleged yesterday that he was the victim of a race-hate campaign from within the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Ravinder Johal claims he was sent hate mail purportedly written by police officers but which was later shown to have originated from the CPS office in Wolverhampton where he worked.

Mr Johal's barrister, Peter Herbert, told an employment tribunal in Birmingham that Mr Johal had been sent three letters. The third one, sent in 1999, told him he was not welcome at Smethwick police station, where he was a regular visitor as a prosecutor, and that things were "becoming ugly". Mr Herbert said Mr Johal had also received malicious phone calls at this home.

A police inquiry eventually focused on Mr Johal's office.

Mr Herbert said Mr Johal had made complaints about his treatment in the CPS where he claims to have been racially victimised by colleagues, two of whom have been found guilty of professional misconduct charges.

Ingrid Simler, representing the CPS, denied the allegations. She told the tribunal that a thorough police investigation of the letters had been mounted to no avail. Although the letters were unpleasant and hostile, there was nothing racist in their content.

The tribunal was adjourned.