Friday, October 3, 2008

Racism taint forces UK top cop to quit

CNN-IBN

 COP OUT: Blair said he has resigned because the Mayor didn\'t support him.

COP OUT: Blair said he has resigned because the Mayor didn't support him.

New Delhi: London's top cop, Sir Ian Blair, has resigned as the commissioner of the metropolitan police.

He was under pressure to quit over racism charges, the inquest into the death of the Brazilian national shot dead by mistake after the London terror attack as well as the granting of Scotland Yard contracts.

It was revealed on Thursday that a contract to improve the Yard's image was given to a close friend of the commissioner.

He was also accused of racism by Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur, the senior most Asian policeman in the force.

Blair said he has resigned because the Mayor didn't support him.

On Sept 10, Ghaffur, Britain's top Muslim policeman, was suspended from his job after accusing the head of London's Metropolitan Police of racial discrimination, sparking claims of "victimisation".

Ghaffur had sued Blair for 1.2 million pounds on grounds of racial, religious and age discrimination.

The decision to suspend Ghaffur was taken by Blair after a meeting with Ghaffur and his lawyer at Scotland Yard. 

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