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Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur
Top muslim cop in race claim
26/ 6/2008
A FORMER Manchester police chief who became Britain's most senior Asian cop could sue the Metropolitan Police for racial discrimination.
Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur reportedly claims he was bullied, harassed and excluded from key meetings about the London 2012 Olympics despite being in charge of security planning.
He is said to be upset his £180,000-a-year contract, which runs out next year, has not been renewed.
The officer, a father of two from Cheshire, who started his career with Greater Manchester Police, also alleges he was criticised by Met chief Sir Ian Blair for speaking against the proposal to hold terror suspects for up to 42 days.
It is understood Mr Ghaffur alleges Sir Ian had `sidelined' ethnic minority officers and that relations between the pair have completely broken down - allegations denied by the Met.
The assistant commissioner is understood to have recruited a barrister to prepare his case but has yet to decide whether to take his case to an employment tribunal.
Mr Ghaffur has refused to comment on the reports.
A Met spokesman said the force was "`unaware that an employment tribunal application had been served or is in the process of prepar ation'.
He added: "AC Ghaffur is a respected senior police officer who has achieved a great deal. We are keen to listen to any concerns that he has and attempt to resolve them with him."
Two years ago, Mr Ghaffur told a conference in Manchester how discrimination blighted his attempts to secure the top jobs in policing. Mr Ghaffur, who unsuccessfully applied to become a chief constable three times including Greater Manchester, said selection processes lacked a `true level of independence'.
Last year Mr Ghaffur was awarded an honorary doctorate from Manchester Metropolitan University for his community relations work after earning a degree in public administration from MMU.
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