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The UK's most senior policeman has been accused of a racist campaign against one of his closest colleagues.

According to a source close to Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur, his legal representatives formally submitted his employment tribunal claims on Friday night.

They include allegations that Scotland Yard Commissioner Sir Ian Blair and other senior members of the Met played a role in a campaign of harassment and discrimination against him.

The source said: "Ghaffur is very unhappy because the Met is briefing against him.

"Details of the claim will not be available to anyone until next week."

Sir Ian has rejected the claims and said he has a "long, honourable and occasionally blood-stained record on the championing of diversity".

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said he was not aware any papers had been lodged.

No one at the tribunal was available to comment.

It is the first time an officer of such seniority has sued the Met and it threatens to plunge the force's leadership into crisis.

Mr Ghaffur is understood to be claiming hundreds of thousands of pounds in loss of earnings and damages.

A rift between the two senior officers emerged in June with news of an allegedly damning dossier of evidence prepared by Mr Ghaffur.

Colleagues said the officer, who is responsible for Olympic security preparations, has been treated "extremely poorly".

Attempts to head off a full-scale employment tribunal with mediation failed after the two parties could not even agree the terms for talks.

It emerged earlier this week that Mr Ghaffur was bugged and photographed as part of an investigation into another senior officer.

Officers recorded meetings between Mr Ghaffur and Commander Ali Dizaei in 2000 and 2001 as part of an ill-fated corruption inquiry.

Mr Dizaei was cleared of perverting the course of justice and fiddling his expenses at the Old Bailey in 2003.

Sir Ian has already been forced to defend his record on diversity at an employment tribunal this year.

Commander Shabir Hussain, another of his most senior colleagues, claimed he was repeatedly overlooked for promotion in favour of white candidates.

The 45-year-old officer has alleged racial discrimination against the Metropolitan Police Authority, its chairman Len Duvall and Sir Ian.

A decision by the tribunal panel is expected within the next month.


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[JohnCenaFan28]

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