Blair relieves Ghaffur of his duties

Britain's most senior ethnic minority officer Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur has been relieved of his duties after bringing a racial discrimination case against the Metropolitan Police and its commissioner, Sir Ian Blair.

Blair announced yesterday that he was temporarily suspending Ghaffur with immediate effect. Ghaffur - who has been overseeing security for the 2012 Olympics - will retain his rank of Assistant Commissioner and a salary of around £180,000 a year while on gardening leave.

Blair said he was not suspending Ghaffur because of his employment tribunal case, but because of the way the officer had behaved in public since launching the case.

"For the avoidance of doubt, the decision has nothing to do with his actions in filing the ET [employment tribunal] application or the fact that he has made the allegations which are the subject matter of the ET claim," Blair said.

"Rather, my decision results from the way in which he has chosen to conduct himself, for example by the manner in which statements were made in his press conference, and in conducting a media campaign, both personally and through the advisers and organisations supporting him."

Ghaffur immediately responded with a statement via his lawyer, in which he accused the Met of "wilful acts of victimisation". His solicitor said Ghaffur was looking at ways of stepping up the legal action, by issuing proceedings against "unlawful victimisation".