MPA welcomes Virdi settlement

12/02
05 February 2002

The Metropolitan Police Authority today welcomed the financial settlement for injury to feelings agreed between the Metropolitan Police and PS Gurpal Virdi, who was dismissed from the force but subsequently reinstated after it was found that he had been discriminated against on the grounds of his race.

Toby Harris, MPA Chair, said:

"There are undoubtedly significant lessons to be learnt from this case and how such matters should be better conducted in the future. 

"The Authority viewed the Inquiry as an opportunity for the Met to establish the same principles for managing their own staff as they are seeking to apply in their dealings with the general public." 

The MPA has worked hard to ensure that this situation could be resolved as soon as possible, and that the Metropolitan Police Service and PS Virdi are able to make arrangements for his return to active service, according to his wishes. 

It is not possible to discuss the details of any specific case, but at the January 2002 meeting of the Full Authority a settlement figure was agreed by Members and offered to PS Virdi, and this has now been accepted. 

The MPA has always been anxious that the Virdi case should be resolved and in September 2000, shortly after its inception, Toby Harris announced that an Inquiry would be set up to examine the Met's case against PS Virdi and the Employment Tribunal findings in relation to the Met's Discipline Board.

The Virdi Inquiry Report was published on 9 January 2002 at a press conference led by R. David Muir, Independent Member and Chair of the Inquiry.

The report addressed processes relating to Employment Tribunals and grievances and also looked at concerns around trust and confidence internally within the Met and the organisational learning to result from this case.

In conclusion, the report makes a wide range of recommendations directed towards the Metropolitan Police Service, the Home Office, the Metropolitan Police Authority and the Commission for Racial Equality. A major concern for the Inquiry Panel is that, for legal reasons, it has not been possible for the key witness, PS Virdi, to offer his evidence in person and be questioned by the Panel. The Panel was able however to draw conclusions from PS Virdi's written statement. When matters are finally concluded between the MPS and PS Virdi it is hoped that his evidence will be heard and a supplementary report will be published.

Notes to editors

1. Case History:

Gurpal Virdi joined the MPS on 10 May 1982. In September 1992 he moved to Ealing Division, where, in November 1992, he was promoted to Sergeant. On 24 December 1997, 13 officers, including PS Virdi, received racist literature. On 19 January 1998, a number of civil staff received separate racist literature. It appeared that the literature had been generated and sent via the internal mail system. During the investigation that followed a female white officer, PC Batchelor, was questioned and eliminated from the enquiries. On 15 April 1998, PS Virdi was arrested for offences of distributing racist hate mail.

The Crown Prosecution Service subsequently decided not to proceed with criminal charges, but on 7 February 2000 PS Virdi appeared before a police disciplinary tribunal. On 3 March 2000 he was found guilty and dismissed from the Metropolitan Police Service.

PS Virdi took the Metropolitan Police Service to Employment Tribunal and on 23 August 2000, the Tribunal found that he had been discriminated against on the grounds of his race. PS Virdi subsequently appealed against the decision of the disciplinary tribunal and on the 30 November 2000 he was reinstated, although he did not return to work at that time.

2. An Employment Tribunal on 8 December 2000 awarded PS Virdi £149,688 compensation for injury to feeling and aggravated damages, and a further £2,000 for loss of opportunities to work overtime whilst he was suspended.

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