Scotland Yard admits racial discrimination in force

London, Jan. 8 (ANI): In a bid to end a year-long boycott of Scotland Yard by the Black Police Association on the pretext of racial discrimination, Britain's biggest force has finally admitted that discrimination still exists among its officers.

A boycott of the force by the Black Police Association, which began in October 2008, will be ended tomorrow, the Guardian reports.

Scotland Yard deputy commissioner Tim Godwin has vowed to "address issues of race and discrimination in the organisation" and in how London is policed, according to a secret letter.

Scotland Yard has also privately accepted that discrimination is part of the reason ethnic minority officers are less likely to get promoted and more likely to be disciplined, the paper reports.

In September 2008 Tarique Ghaffur, third in charge of the Met and Britain's most senior officer from an ethnic minority, was suspended after calling his boss, Sir Ian Blair, a racist and suing the force for discrimination. He later left the Met.

One of Ghaffur's closest advisers, Commander Ali Dizaei, was suspended after misconduct allegations and was later charged with misconduct in public office and intending to pervert the course of justice.

The BPA responded by urging ethnic minority Britons not to join the force, the paper said.

Community groups said the boycott was effective and had damaged the Met's efforts to recruit ethnic minority officers.

In his letter to the Met BPA, Godwin said: "I am writing to set out how I see the Met BPA working with other colleagues to address issues of race and discrimination in the organisation and in the delivery of policing services to the people of London.

"In particular I want to ensure that the concerns you have raised about disproportionality in our discipline processes and in the progression of staff through the organisation are effectively addressed," he added. (ANI)