Policeman 'passed over for promotion because he was white' (Great Britain)

The Daily Mail (U.K.) ^ | July 19, 2007

[Stoat]

Policeman 'passed over for promotion because he was white'

Last updated at 15:50pm on 19th July 2007

 

'Passed over': Sergeant Peter Richmond claims he was overlooked because senior officers wanted to fast-track Kash Singhan (below)

A disgruntled cop of 25 years says police top brass shunned him for promotion because he was white.

Sergeant Peter Richmond claims he was overlooked for an inspector role because senior officers wanted an Asian figurehead instead.

The 44-year-old told an employment tribunal on Wednesday that under promotion rules he was next in line for the job.

But his application was rejected after the district commander fast-tracked Kash Singh for the high-profile position in the Manningham area of Bradford - a community which saw Asian youths riot in 1995 and 2001.

Chief Supt Allan Doherty denied the charge of racial discrimination at the hearing in Leeds, saying Insp Singh was chosen for his ability rather than his colour.

But Mr Richmond was left seething at being shut out in favour of a 'token representative' since West Yorkshire Police select a group of 20 sergeants for promotion each year and he had won the right in October 2005.

By July last year though he was one of only three not yet given an inspector's placement while Insp Singh was chosen in June last year - eight months after Mr Richmond.

Force protocols state that all sergeants waiting for promotion from the previous year should be placed before those on the next list - but Mr Richmond said this was ignored.

He said: "I believe that if Kash Singh had not been an ethnic minority officer, he would not have been earmarked for this role.

"Mr Doherty made no efforts to find out what links I had with the community. Instead they thought it would be nice to have a person there as a token representative."

But Mr Doherty claimed Insp Singh was chosen because he speaks Hindu, Punjabi and Urdu and is president of the British Indian Association - giving him unique ties with the community.

He said: "Since 2001, tensions between Muslim youths and police have been further strained because of terrorism.

"This is a unique posting into a pressure cooker of an area. To have someone who has the credibility and trust of this community is something I can't put a price on."

He added: "If someone thinks I'd give this most important position to someone according to their skin colour then they're deluded."

Mr Richmond added that when he complained to the force's diversity department he was quickly offered an inspectorship in the Leeds area but it was withdrawn after he pressed ahead with his case.

He was then charged with discrimination himself against a community support officer under his watch, in which it was claimed he refused to let her go to the toilet, and was demoted to constable.

But he said he thought the charges were brought against him to encourage him to drop his own and is considering a second case of victimisation.

The tribunal was adjourned until August.

[Stoat]

Related FR thread from 2005:

Great Britain White men may wait three years to get into the Metropolitan Police

I am personally acquainted with two police officers who simply got tired and fed up with being continually passed over on the Sergeant's exam here in the USA.  They would always be among the top scoring candidates yet a female or ethnic minority who was sometimes thirty places down the scoring list from them would be promoted in their place.....these excellent, dedicated officers both just became disillusioned and fed up, and retired as soon as they could.

I've seen this in the fire service as well.

It seems that so very many people who push these affirmative action programs have never have had trouble of any kind in their lives.  If they ever had, they would understand that when it's 3AM and your house is on fire or you have the need for police, you want the very most qualified person to appear at your door....not someone who is chosen for political reasons.

[TLI]

you want the very most qualified person to appear at your door....not someone who is chosen for political reasons.

Stock evil raciest reply post...

Folks are getting mighty fed up with the AA bs.

[Paperdoll]

I understand that in UK at one time it was imperative that in order to serve on the police force, one had to be a Mason. Is that no longer true? It must not be, for I cannot imagine them passing over one’s own for a non-member.

[Stoat]

I understand that in UK at one time it was imperative that in order to serve on the police force, one had to be a Mason. Is that no longer true?

I would think that if such a thing were occurring today, there would be continual Leftist rioting in the streets over 'such a horrible injustice'.

[pabianice]

Join the club.

[Tzimisce]

Well I don’t see anything wrong here. You can’t be racist or discriminate against white people - so I don’t even see what they’re getting at.

[art_rocks]

I always wondered how hard those test were. I asked one of the SGTs in my reserve unit. She said it wasn’t hard at all. She couldn’t understand how you could fail it.

She did mention the aa and that if you were white male, you would need a BA/BS or a Masters. Minorities only needed high school and would be hired.

I told her I should take the test to mess up the average for the minorities.