Allegations of racial discrimination - Bedfordshire Police, July 2014

In 2007, Bedfordshire Police Professional Standards Department (PSD) commenced an investigation into a Police Sergeant over perceived breaches of the Police Code of Conduct (now known as the Police Standards of Professional Behaviour). He was investigated for alleged dishonesty and discreditable conduct.

Starting in January 2009, the Sergeant lodged a series of grievances alleging that he had suffered discrimination on the grounds of his race. While some aspects of his grievances were addressed, Bedfordshire Police did not investigate his allegations of discrimination.

In June 2010, the Sergeant appeared before a gross misconduct hearing. The Panel concluded that nine of the 16 misconduct charges were proven, and the Sergeant was reprimanded and fined.

In October 2012, the Sergeant lodged an Employment Tribunal (ET) claim alleging that Bedfordshire Police had discriminated against him based on his race. He sought compensation for loss of promotion and future promotional opportunities, loss of earnings, and injury to feelings.

In July 2014, the ET concluded that Bedfordshire Police had discriminated against the Sergeant on grounds of his race, and awarded him compensation. The ET judgment criticised a number of individual officers and police staff members.

Bedfordshire Police referred the matter to us in October 2014 and in April 2015 we launched an independent investigation into the officers and staff who had been criticised in the ET judgment. In February 2016 we widened our investigation to include an additional five officers/members of police staff.

Our investigators interviewed the Sergeant and obtained accounts from a number of other witnesses. They obtained and reviewed material that was provided to the ET, including substantial amounts of written documents, emails and records from human resources. They also sought accounts from the 15 officers and staff under investigation.

After discussion with the force, we agreed to stop investigating allegations against one of the officers during the course of the investigation

The majority of the police officers and members of staff had retired prior to the investigation starting. Based on the evidence available, out of the 14 former and serving officers and staff we investigated, we were of the opinion that:

• Two would have had a case to answer for misconduct, had they still been serving with the police, around their decision making (under the Police Standards of Professional Behaviour ‘duties and responsibilities’, or its equivalent at the relevant time) for their role in the events leading up to the ET.
• There was or would have been no case to answer for the remaining twelve.
• The performance of six out of these 12 had been unsatisfactory.

We were of the opinion that there was, or would have been, no case to answer for discrimination against any of the officers and staff under investigation.

After reviewing our report, Bedfordshire Police accepted the findings of the final report and recommendations. As the majority of the police officers and members of staff were no longer serving with the police, it was not necessary for Bedfordshire Police to make any determinations concerning them, and no further action was taken.