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Tory MP urges May to review Met's investigation into Asian officer Tory MP urges May to review Met's investigation into Asian officer
(35 minutes later)
A senior Conservative MP has urged Theresa May to review the case of a retired Asian police officer who was recently cleared of sexual assault against a prisoner.A senior Conservative MP has urged Theresa May to review the case of a retired Asian police officer who was recently cleared of sexual assault against a prisoner.
Sir Peter Bottomley has written to the home secretary requesting a meeting to discuss the case, saying malice and incompetence may have played a part in the police investigation.Sir Peter Bottomley has written to the home secretary requesting a meeting to discuss the case, saying malice and incompetence may have played a part in the police investigation.
Former DS Gurpal Virdi was acquitted three weeks ago of all charges after being accused of sexually abusing a teenage boy in a police van in 1986. The jury took 50 minutes to acquit him and Judge Andrew Goymer said a conspiracy may have been behind the case. Former DS Gurpal Virdi was acquitted of all charges three weeks ago after being accused of sexually abusing a teenage boy in a police van in 1986. The jury took 50 minutes to acquit him and Judge Andrew Goymer said a conspiracy might have been behind the case.
Virdi, who has accused Scotland Yard of pursuing a vendetta against him, told Radio 4’s Today programme: “There is a culture that is very racist and it attacks people who speak the truth.”Virdi, who has accused Scotland Yard of pursuing a vendetta against him, told Radio 4’s Today programme: “There is a culture that is very racist and it attacks people who speak the truth.”
Related: Officer who challenged racism in police cleared of sexual assault chargesRelated: Officer who challenged racism in police cleared of sexual assault charges
He also repeated the charge that the Metropolitan police’s directorate of professional standards is a cancer of racism that needs to be removed. He also repeated the charge that the Metropolitan police’s directorate of professional standards was a cancer of racism that needed to be removed. “The racist officers there go from department to department,” he said.
“The racist officers there go from department to department,” he said.
During the trial at Southwark crown court, Virdi alleged that police tried to discredit him after he gave evidence to the 1998 Stephen Lawrence inquiry about racism within the Met.During the trial at Southwark crown court, Virdi alleged that police tried to discredit him after he gave evidence to the 1998 Stephen Lawrence inquiry about racism within the Met.
“It’s still the ongoing campaign against me, as it has been, since 1998,” he told the Guardian recently. “It just shows that all the reports done into racism and fairness, are ignored. Senior officers provide lip service, recommendations are not implemented and some people have a licence to do want they want in the Met.”“It’s still the ongoing campaign against me, as it has been, since 1998,” he told the Guardian recently. “It just shows that all the reports done into racism and fairness, are ignored. Senior officers provide lip service, recommendations are not implemented and some people have a licence to do want they want in the Met.”
Virdi has won two employment tribunals against the Met, one after he claimed to have been framed by colleagues, and the other after claiming to have been victimised.Virdi has won two employment tribunals against the Met, one after he claimed to have been framed by colleagues, and the other after claiming to have been victimised.
In the latest court case, he was charged with indecent assault of a prisoner and misconduct in public office after an incident nearly 30 years ago in south London when he detained a young person. Virdi was alleged to have racially abused the black prisoner and to have prodded him in the anus with a collapsable baton while in the back of a police van.In the latest court case, he was charged with indecent assault of a prisoner and misconduct in public office after an incident nearly 30 years ago in south London when he detained a young person. Virdi was alleged to have racially abused the black prisoner and to have prodded him in the anus with a collapsable baton while in the back of a police van.
Originally Virdi was charged with attacking a minor only for the Met to realise the alleged victim was over 16 at the time. The collapsable baton was not being used at the time by the Met police. Originally Virdi was charged with attacking a minor only for the Met to realise the alleged victim was over 16 at the time. The collapsable baton was not being used by the force at the time.
Virdi’s treatment by the Met first came to public attention in 1998 after he was arrested, had his home searched and was suspended. The detective sergeant, who was serving at a west London police station, was accused of sending racist hate mail to himself and other ethnic minority officers. Virdi’s treatment by the Met came to public attention in 1998 after he was arrested, had his home searched and was suspended. The detective sergeant, who was serving at a west London police station, was accused of sending racist hate mail to himself and other ethnic minority officers.
In March 2000 a police discipline panel found against the Sikh officer and he was dismissed in disgrace, his claims of racism passed off as spurious allegations from a discredited chancer. But in August 2000 an employment tribunal found the force had racially discriminated against Virdi. In February 2002 he received an apology, £240,000 in compensation and returned to work.In March 2000 a police discipline panel found against the Sikh officer and he was dismissed in disgrace, his claims of racism passed off as spurious allegations from a discredited chancer. But in August 2000 an employment tribunal found the force had racially discriminated against Virdi. In February 2002 he received an apology, £240,000 in compensation and returned to work.
In 2007 an employment tribunal found that the Met had victimised Virdi again by refusing him promotion in 2005 because he had previously won a race discrimination case against the force. The tribunal did not uphold a claim of racial discrimination.In 2007 an employment tribunal found that the Met had victimised Virdi again by refusing him promotion in 2005 because he had previously won a race discrimination case against the force. The tribunal did not uphold a claim of racial discrimination.