PCC will conduct ‘full review’ after officers win discrimination claim
An employment tribunal has found that Thames Valley Police discriminated against three white police officers because of their race when appointing an officer to a priority crime team.
Thames Valley’s police and crime commissioner Matthew Barber said this was “clearly unacceptable” and will conduct a full review into force processes to “ensure this cannot happen in the future”.
The tribunal judge ruled that the failure to consider three officers for promotion because of their race was unlawful.
The three officers, Detective Inspector Phillip Turner-Robson, Inspector Graham Horton and Custody Inspector Kirsteen Bishop, who had each served with the force for between 19 and 26 years, brought the discrimination claim against Thames Valley Police arguing that they had been unfairly disadvantaged because they were white British.
The tribunal, which took place in April but with its decision published only last week, found that the decision to promote an Asian sergeant to the rank of detective inspector without a competitive process amounted to positive discrimination.
The case revolved around an initiative to improve diversity within the senior ranks of the force, with a directive to promote an Asian sergeant to detective inspector as part of this diversity effort. This directive was given despite warnings about the legal implications of bypassing a competitive selection process, the tribunal heard.
Mr Barber said: “It is critical in building confidence across our whole community that there is never any discrimination in policing. In this case, the employment tribunal found that the force had discriminated against the claimants on the basis of race. This is clearly unacceptable and should not have happened.
“I recognise Thames Valley Police’s commitment to building a workforce that represents the whole community, but it is apparent from the judgment that the force was wrong on this occasion in that the processes it followed were not fair, transparent, or competitive.
“I am clear that Thames Valley Police must treat everyone equally when making appointments, determined solely on merit. I will ensure a full review into the processes, policies and approach by the force to ensure this cannot happen in the future.
“There must be no place for any form of discrimination in policing and I expect the chief constable to ensure that all communities are treated equally by Thames Valley Police.”