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£10,000 payout for turban row Pc | £10,000 payout for turban row Pc |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A Sikh police officer has been awarded £10,000 in compensation after he was ordered to remove his turban for riot training by Greater Manchester Police. | |
An employment tribunal ruled Gurmeal Singh, 31, had been subject to "indirect discrimination" and harassment. | An employment tribunal ruled Gurmeal Singh, 31, had been subject to "indirect discrimination" and harassment. |
The tribunal had been told a sergeant asked Pc Singh: "Can you take that thing off?" | The tribunal had been told a sergeant asked Pc Singh: "Can you take that thing off?" |
Judge Murray Creed said this was a "violation" of his "dignity". | Judge Murray Creed said this was a "violation" of his "dignity". |
He was awarded £3,500 for indirect discrimination and £6,500 for harassment after suffering psychological damage, injury to feelings and personal injury, the tribunal ruled. | He was awarded £3,500 for indirect discrimination and £6,500 for harassment after suffering psychological damage, injury to feelings and personal injury, the tribunal ruled. |
The officer, who joined Greater Manchester Police (GMP) in 2004, is a baptised and practising Sikh and it is against his religion to remove his turban in public or modify it. | |
I'm looking to return to work and see how GMP accommodate me Gurmeal Singh | |
He said he suffered panic attacks, stress and palpitations and had to go off sick from work over the issue during a long-running dispute with his employers. | He said he suffered panic attacks, stress and palpitations and had to go off sick from work over the issue during a long-running dispute with his employers. |
Out of the officer's 15 grievances, two were ruled in his favour: Harassment from a superior and "indirect discrimination" because the rules around the riot training lacked "clarity". | Out of the officer's 15 grievances, two were ruled in his favour: Harassment from a superior and "indirect discrimination" because the rules around the riot training lacked "clarity". |
Pc Singh is still employed by the force on "recuperative duties" but hopes to return to full operational duties. | |
He was also awarded payment for loss of earnings of £1,914 and, including interest on the award, the total amount he will receive is £12,636. | |
Speaking after the hearing Pc Singh said: "I'm just pleased, really pleased, that it is all over. | |
"I'm looking to return to work and see how GMP accommodate me." | |
Uniform recommendation | |
The officer said he would be donating 10% of the award to a children's charity. | |
During the hearing it emerged there was confusion within GMP, which has three Sikh officers out of almost 13,000 staff, about the policy on turbans. | |
Pc Singh was told at various points he would not have to do the riot training, only to be told by others that it was mandatory. | |
Awarding the compensation, Judge Creed said that GMP should amend its police uniform and equipment policy to take into account the requirement of Sikh officers. | |
Julia Rogers, GMP's assistant chief officer, said: "We felt we acted in the officer's best interests, but accept the findings from this tribunal and have already updated the policies this relates to." | |
She said the force would be working with the newly formed British Police Sikh Association in an effort to resolve any ongoing issues. |
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