Ghaffur: My case puts Asians off joining Met

THE former Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner today spoke out over his row last year with Scotland Yard about its alleged racism, saying it could put off Asians from joining the force.

Speaking for the first time about the case, which was settled out of court in a £300,000 deal, Tarique Ghaffur warned that the furore had caused a public "crisis of confidence" with the police.

He told weekly Asian newspaper Eastern Eye: "It is legitimate for people to say, 'if this can happen at that level, then what chance has anyone else got?' That is something organisations such as the police have to reflect on." He added: "It wasn't until I left that I realised the major dent it had made in public confidence."

Mr Ghaffur, 53, alleged in a press conference last summer that the then Met Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair had waged a campaign of racial discrimination against him. Mr Ghaffur was then suspended.

Sir Paul Stephenson, who has since replaced Sir Ian, said at the time that those making race claims should "shut up and get on with the job".