Discrimination: Met Police faces new claims of racial bullying

The Metropolitan Police once held up Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur, right, as a shining example of how far it had come since Sir William Macpherson called it "institutionally racist" in 1999 after the bungled investigation into the murder of Stephen Lawrence.

Not any more. Earlier this year it emerged that Mr Ghaffur had been edged aside as controller of security for the 2012 Olympics. For him it was the last straw in relation to what he sees as the "golden circle" of white officers surrounding Sir Ian Blair, the Met's Police Commissioner. He brought a legal action against the Met in August, citing race, age and religious discrimination. His solicitor, Shahrokh Mireskandari, made further claims that the Assistant Commissioner has suffered smears and death threats. The country's most senior Asian officer was suspended last week, accusing the Met of "wilful acts of victimisation" in response.

Two days later Yasmin Rehman, the Met's head of diversity, confirmed her own legal case against her bosses for racist bullying.

Any hope of matters being peacefully resolved disappeared yesterday with claims that Asian Met Commander Ali Dizaei wrongfully aided a defence team in a Met prosecution.