Top Asian officer plans to sue Met for discrimination

Britain's most senior Asian police officer is preparing to take legal action against Scotland Yard for racial discrimination, accusing colleagues of victimisation, bullying and harassment.

Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur is set to make allegations against Commissioner Sir Ian Blair as well as the Police Authority chairman, Len Duvall.

Mr Ghaffur, who is responsible for security at the 2012 Olympics, has had legal documents drawn up and is in the final stages of preparing the case against his employer, sources said.

A Met spokesman said the force would be "disappointed" if Mr Ghaffur lodged a claim. " We are keen to listen to any concerns that he has and attempt to resolve them with him," he said.

His allegations come at a particularly damaging time for the Met, just two days after Sir Ian was accused of excluding black and Asian detectives in favour of a "golden circle" of white officers. Commander Shabir Hussain, 45, told an employment tribunal that he was passed over for promotion by the country's most senior police officer who used his influence to earmark others.

Relations between Mr Ghaffur and Sir Ian have been strained for some time, with the former said to be bitter at being sidelined in his job. One senior colleague said the two men will not speak to each other.

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