Race chief charged over 'police threats'

The head of Britain's race watchdog was charged yesterday with threatening behaviour towards police after an incident outside Lord's cricket ground.

Gurbux Singh, the chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality, was charged with a public order offence and is scheduled to appear before Horseferry Road magistrates' court in London on Wednesday.

The alleged incident is said to have happened after the 51-year-old stumbled into police outside Lord's in north London following England's defeat in a one-day series final against India on Saturday, 13 July.

Four officers were examined by a police doctor after the incident. Mr Singh and his wife, Siobhan Maguire, 40, were arrested under Section Four of the Public Order Act for threatening behaviour. His wife received a formal caution yesterday but was not charged. The couple answered bail at Marylebone police station in London.

The incident occurred amid high-spirited celebratory scenes outside Lord's after India beat England with three balls to spare at about 7pm.

Later that day Mr Singh said at his home in north London: "It is a fact that most people who go to Lord's for the cricket enjoy drinking alcohol. I would not say that I had drunk heavily.

"Most people know that I am a great cricket fanatic. I have to say that it was one of the most memorable cricket games that I have ever, ever seen. In fact, it was probably the best game I have seen."

He added: "There was a spectacular performance from England and an equally great performance by India. It was a tremendous day celebrated in every way possible. It is regrettable that events turned out the way they have."

If convicted, Mr Singh faces a maximum sentence of six months in jail and would be likely to come under pressure to consider resigning from his present job.

Mr Singh, who came to Britain from the Punjab at the age of six, is a former chief executive of Haringey council in north London. He was appointed as chairman of the CRE two years ago by the Home Secretary at the time, Jack Straw.