Met woman 'to launch race claim'

A senior Muslim woman in Britain's largest police force is poised to bring a race discrimination claim, it has been reported.

The Metropolitan Police's head of diversity Yasmin Rehman is set to launch an employment tribunal case claiming she has suffered racist bullying and victimisation.

It comes just two days after the most senior Muslim officer in the Met and 2012 Olympics security chief, Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur, was suspended over his own race discrimination claims.

Ms Rehman is a civilian worker at the Met but is understood to have won the backing of the Metropolitan Black Police Association (MBPA), which is also representing Mr Ghaffur.

Neither Ms Rehman nor the MBPA were available for comment.

Ms Rehman, the force's Director of Partnerships and Diversity, is believed to have been on stress-related sick leave for a year.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "We have not received any notification of any action."

Head of the Society of Black Lawyers, Peter Herbert, said of the latest reported race case: "It is of serious concern, particularly if it indicates that a pattern is developing.

"If black and minority staff are bringing a series of legal actions that would suggest there is a failure within the organisation."

On Tuesday, within hours of the Met announcing his suspension, Mr Ghaffur, 53, accused the force of committing "wilful acts of victimisation" against him because of his complaints of racism against the force.

Met Commissioner Sir Ian Blair said the suspension of Mr Ghaffur was a response to his "personal conduct" in holding a televised press conference and had nothing to do with the decision to take the force to an employment tribunal.

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