Met discrimination payout for Games ‘poster girl’
The Metropolitan police issues a public apology for the first time, to a black female police officer who has been awarded nearly £40,000 in compensation for race and sexual discrimination.
An employment tribunal found that 35-year-old PC Carol Howard, who became Olympic Games “poster girl” for the Met, had been bullied, harassed and victimised while serving as one of only two black officers in the 700-strong Diplomatic Protection Group.
The tribunal had previously ruled the force operated a policy of deleting findings of sex and race discrimination from internal grievance documents.
Today Met faced further condemnation for the way it “deflected criticism” following the ruling in July, and leaked private information about PC Howard’s suspension from duty.
The tribunal said the Met’s conduct was malicious, insulting and oppressive.
The tribunal was damning of the commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, for failing to express any regret or to apologise for the way PC Howard had been treated.
The tribunal said that Met’s conduct was malicious, insulting and oppressive and for that alone PC Howard was to receive £10,000 in aggravated damages.
The Met in a statement said: “..there was no intent to deflect attention, but instead to ensure that the organisation was as open and transparent as possible whilst working within our guidelines.
“But we are deeply regretful of any additional distress this caused PC Howard.”
‘Two-year ordeal’
PC Howard said: ‘Today is not a day for celebration. I have been put through a two-year ordeal in which I have been bullied, harassed and victimised simply because of my gender and race. No amount of compensation will ever make up for the hurt and upset that I have been caused.
“I am glad that the tribunal recognised that this leak of information was a dirty trick by the Metropolitan police aimed solely at deflecting criticism from itself while simultaneously seriously damaging my reputation.
This leak of information was a dirty trick by the Metropolitan police aimed solely at deflecting criticism. PC Carol Howard
She continued: “Even today I am still having to fight to clear my name, in this regard, as part of this ongoing nightmare.
“I do hope that lessons can be learned from my case which will allow more officers, suffering similar discriminatory treatment, to come forward.’
PC Howard is currently on sick leave.