Female Police Officer Sues Met for Race Discrimination and Wrongful Dismissal

Strategic Insights -

Nina Massey, a 39-year-old female police officer who was part of the team that guarded the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, is suing the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) for racial discrimination and wrongful dismissal. According to her claims, Ricky Haruna was subjected to racist behavior by a colleague, PS Laurence Boyle, who allegedly called her the "n-word" and convinced a dementia sufferer to make false claims of fraud against her. Haruna was then arrested, appeared before a misconduct panel, and was subsequently dismissed for gross misconduct.

Key Takeaways:

  • Ricky Haruna, a 39-year-old female police officer, is suing the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) for racial discrimination and wrongful dismissal.
  • Haruna claims that PS Laurence Boyle, a colleague, racially harassed her and convinced a dementia sufferer to make false claims of fraud against her.
  • The DPS was aware of the racial allegations Haruna made, but failed to present this evidence to the police misconduct board, leading to her wrongful dismissal.
  • The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) deemed the fraud allegation against Haruna untenable.
  • Haruna was reinstated with full pay following a successful internal appeal, but is still pursuing a case at the employment tribunal.
  • The MPS admitted to having a written policy to ensure that no discrimination complaint was successful, as seen in the employment tribunal case of black police officer Pc Carol Howard.
  • PS Boyle's questioning of the dementia sufferer caused her to become "very upset", with the latter making false claims of fraud against Haruna.

Statistics:

  • 2002: The year Haruna joined the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS).
  • 1: The number of times the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) deemed the fraud allegation against Haruna untenable.
  • Full pay restitution: The amount Haruna was reinstated with, following a successful internal appeal against her dismissal.
  • 1: The number of employment tribunal cases cited, including Pc Carol Howard's case, where the MPS admitted to having a written policy to ensure that no discrimination complaint was successful.

Sources:

  • The Guardian