Payout to Sikh detective is overturned

An Asian police officer awarded over £70,000 for racial discrimination and victimisation has had his compensation revoked after Scotland Yard successfully appealed against the ruling.

Detective Sergeant Gurpal Virdi won the damages last month after it was ruled by an employment tribunal he was passed over for promotion to detective inspector. The 49-year-old Sikh, from west London, has worked for the Met for 26 years and is in the Met's Specialist Crime Directorate. He had previously been awarded more than £200,000 in compensation and is seeking more damages in further tribunals.

A Met spokesman said that after the employment appeal tribunal "the entire claim for race discrimination and victimisation has failed and the associated tribunal award of £70,000 to Det Sgt Virdi is revoked".

A further claim by Det Sgt Virdi of race discrimination and victimisation is part heard and will resume in November. A separate claim for race and disability discrimination is due to be heard by a tribunal in September."

In August 2000, he was awarded £150,000 by another tribunal for racial discrimination when he was unfairly dismissed by the Met. He was reinstated in 2002. Sir John Stevens ordered Det Sgt Virdi be paid a further £90,000 for "injury to his feelings".