Hundreds of police set to lodge race bias claims

Hundreds of police officers are poised to mount race discrimination actions against their own forces in reaction to the case launched by Britain's most senior Asian police chief, it was reported last night.

Black and Asian staff from almost every force in the country are claiming they have been marginalised or passed over for promotion, following the example of Tarique Ghaffur, the Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner, according to a report in The Sunday Telegraph.

Mr Ghaffur has compiled a dossier of evidence that he believes proves he was discriminated against during his career in the police, including the claim that he was passed over for the post of deputy commissioner because of his race. Sir Ian Blair, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, is now preparing for last-ditch talks with Mr Ghaffur to head off an employment tribunal at which he will allege discrimination.

However, it is thought that more than 300 officers have now contacted the National Black Police Association (NBPA) with complaints, with insiders confirming that the Ghaffur case was the "catalyst".

The Met, condemned as "institutionally racist" by the Macpherson report nine years ago, has increased its proportion of black and minority ethnic officers from 3.4 to 8.3 per cent.