On Thursday 25th June, reports emerged of a former female Asian-origin officer suing the Metropolitan Police over alleged racist and sexist abuse.
Nusrit Mehtab reportedly quit from the Force this year after 32 years of service, complaining about a "toxic workplace" where colleagues and bosses, including Commissioner Cressida Dick, allegedly only paid lip service to diversity. Thus, she is now suing the force for £500k for constructive dismissal, race, sex and religious discrimination, harassment and victimisation.
According to the documents supplied to an employment tribunal, she alleges how she was asked to remain silent when a Swastika was drawn on the wall of a police station in an area only accessible to staff. She also claims her bosses tried to hush up the graffiti and later blamed it on builders. Swastika is a symbol of anti-semitism and terror in Nazi Germany.
She also alleges that her promotion was slow even as she became a superintendent and the most senior female ethnic minority officer. Yet, accuses the force of institutional racism and sexism that was preventing further promotion. In tribunal papers, she says she is claiming £500,000 compensation for lost earnings and pension and injury to her feelings.
A Pakistani origin and a practising Muslim, she claims she was forced to patrol alone because of her race and was ignored by white male colleagues who refused to talk to or sit next to her. Speaking to Sky News she said,
"Most resented and disliked me. It was apparent that many white officers found it very difficult to take orders from me as a woman of colour who was also a Muslim.
"Being racist and sexist, they found it too humiliating. Fortunately, an order is an order and no one threw it back in my face and risked being disciplined for insubordination, but they made my job as difficult as they could behind my back."
She said that senior ethnic minority officers had to march 10m (33ft) behind Commissioner Cressida Dick and white colleagues at a parade to celebrate women's role in policing last year. She said: "It is how we are made to feel unvalued. It was humiliating.
She accused Commissioner Cressida Dick of failing to tackle racism, claiming she "protects the racist working environment by supporting racist officers".
The Metropolitan Police said: "We are aware a police officer has brought a claim against the MPS alleging race, sex and religion/belief discrimination and harassment. It would be inappropriate to comment further ahead of the employment tribunal hearing.
"While we will not discuss details of an ongoing claim, it should be highlighted that the Met has, in recent years, made a number of major changes to the way complaints about discrimination and victimisation in the workplace are investigated, making our processes more fit for purpose.”
This is not the first time that Met Office has been embroiled in a racism debate. Late last year, reports surfaced that three quarters of the Met’s senior ethnic minority cops are involved in force legal wrangles, leading to claims of racism.
