Here we face one of those interesting little conundrums. We have evidence – not the complete amount to be sure – of something. But what is it that we’ve got that evidence of? It is possible to read this in two very different ways. One is that London’s various police organisations are horribly racist and oppressive to anyone not shiny pink. Another is that someone’s got a taste of the compensation culture and would like some more. Our problem is that what we know is entirely consistent with either interpretation:
A Scotland Yard poster girl who successfully sued the force for racial discrimination has launched similar action against her new employers.
Former firearms police officer Carol Howard won a £37,000 payout after lodging a claim against the Met, but she is now suing the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) after accusing them of being “institutionally racist and corrupt”.
The 39 year-old told an employment tribunal that the watchdog frustrated inquiries in order to protect accused officers.
Ms Howard, of Coulsdon, Surrey, is seeking a £144,000 payout for alleged racial discrimination and victimisation during her six-month stint at the IPCC.
She told the tribunal: “The white managers I worked with are not independent and believe that their duty is not to investigate wrongdoing officers but to protect the reputation of the police force concerned and its senior officers in particular. They are corrupt.”
Given the past of the police I’m willing to believe either side of this. It most certainly was true – and no, this isn’t to talk about McPherson and institutional racism – that London’s police were corrupt, racist and in general a long way away from Peel’s thief takers. The point being they were, they could be again.
Then again we’ve those like Connie St. Louis and, well, any number of grievance studies people, who would claim racism because someone asked for a black coffee. We’re also aware that people respond to incentives and a year or two’s wages tax free – legal compensation is tax free – for winning a complaint is one of those, isn’t it?
My actual point here being that I don’t know. Not just because I’ve not access to more evidence, but because the well is so polluted by that grievance industry that I don’t think I ever will know.
£144K for alleged “racism”…? Tell me again what the maximum level of compensation that a squaddie who’s had both legs blown off is able to claim?
If everyone you meet all day is an ar$ehole, the ar$ehole is probably you. Unless you work for a French Oil Company I gather. She has been on a nice little earner. But she may well have a point. The child porn charge seems absurd. If the boyfriend wants to withdraw the beating complaint, then I don’t see why the police should proceed. But on the other hand if it is retaliation against her earlier bullsh!t claims, I can well understand. All in all, it is a sad indication of the weakness of the British ruling class. They let themselves… Read more »
The IPCC has a point. The last thing they need is an investigation looking like it is biased in any way, they have enough difficulty persuading the public and police they are independent and disinterested without their investigators having sued one of the parties being investigated.
If everyone you meet all day is an ar$ehole, the ar$ehole is probably you. Unless you work for a French
OilCompany I gather.FIFY
I was asked recently by a commentator on me blog to explain what motivated me to write it. I have given this some thought and in the spirit of twatting on timmy i will offer an explanation. It was some time ago that the Guardian described me as an ‘anti-poverty campaigner and tax expert’. That summarises what many seem to think about my work but it does not get to the core of my motivation. What motivates me is my disquiet with inequality. In saying that I do not just mean economic inequality, however important that might be, but all… Read more »
Twat
“Whilst having a shite and pondering as to how I dump something utterly irrelevant to the thread”
Sure, if you say so.
If she’s claiming they are protecting the reputation of the force as a whole (regardless of race/creed/gender etc.) than how is that racist, corrupt yes
Tim,
Can you please talk to your technical wizards about getting an “ignore” button for the comments section?