Analysis: Dizaei, a boycott and a sense of deja vu

There was an unsettling sense of déjà vu at Scotland Yard today following the decision by the Met's Black Police Association to call for a recruitment boycott. We have been here before, and in circumstances that give rise to serious concerns over the background to the current attempt to dissuade people from ethnic minorities to join the police.

In 2003, Ali Dizaei, an Iranianborn officer at the Yard, was acquitted at the old Bailey of corruption charges. After a multi-million-pound investigation and a long trial the case against him collapsed. As he walked free, the National Black Police Association, working closely with its equivalent at the Yard, threatened a recruitment boycott unless Mr Dizaei was immediately reinstated. Despite the fact he still faced disciplinary action, Mr Dizaei was swiftly invited back, paid £80,000 in compensation and recommended for promotion to commander.

It was a humiliating climbdown, but the then home Secretary David Blunkett and the Yard's hierarchy felt they had no defence against the black officers' ultimate weapon - a call on ethnic minorities to shun the force. Recruitment from ethnic minorities has long been seen as one of the most important initiatives in the drive towards a more inclusive and representative police service. Vast resources are spent on trying to bring in recruits. Their active discouragement by a body apparently designed to protect their best interests could hardly be contemplated.

Now it has happened. And the man whose name is being linked to it is Ali Dizaei.

Senior officers at the Yard have been expecting trouble for months. Tensions between the leadership and senior Asian officers over alleged discrimination in promotion led to high profile actions brought by a commander, Shabir hussain, and Assistant commissioner Tarique Ghaffur, the Met's most senior Muslim officer.

As the row became increasingly sulphurous, Mr Ghaffur was relieved of his duties.

Mr Dizaei, president of the National Black Police Association, closely advised both men. The turmoil over allegations of racial discrimination then took an unexpected turn. last month, Mr Dizaei - whom many considered untouchable after his old Bailey triumph - was suspended. his supporters immediately accused the Met of a "witch hunt" and claimed he was being targeted because he had been pushing Mr Ghaffur's case. But pressure was mounting on the Yard to do something about Mr Dizaei. he is under investigation on three matters. one concerns the alleged misuse of his police credit card, another his off-duty arrest of a man he said attacked him outside a café popular with Middle eastern clientele in west london. When officers investigated the affair they found ccTV evidence which, it is alleged, contradicted Mr Dizaei's claims. The matters were handed to the Independent Police complaints commission.

Then it was revealed that Mr Dizaei had been secretly employed by a solicitor to advise on how a man facing a charge of causing death by dangerous driving could escape conviction. The solicitor, it was disclosed, was Shahrokh Mireskandari, a close associate of Mr Dizaei, who had advised both him and Mr Ghaffur on racial discrimination matters.

Mr Dizaei's supporters say he has been victimised for his efforts to combat racism. his critics say he has used the race card to manipulate weak leadership. one thing is certain: his stature in the Black Police Association hierarchy means the recruitment boycott would never have happened without - at the very least - his support.