Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur has accused his own force of racial discrimination.

The country's most senior Asian police officer, Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur Ghaffur is preparing a legal case against the Metropolitan Police, alleging racial discrimination.

The Times newspaper refers to the alleged discrimination as “a catalogue of victimisation, bullying and harassment”

The allegations include:

• - A failure to renew his contract when other white officers of a similar level have had theirs renewed.
• - Not being allowed to voice his concerns that the new laws to detain terror suspects for 42 days were unnecessary.
• - Being excluded from key meetings about the London 2012 Olympics despite being in charge of security planning.

The National Black Police Association is fully aware of Mr. Ghaffur's concerns.

Today, Sir Ian said: "Tarique Ghaffur is an esteemed colleague, a respected officer and role model”, but also threatened to sack him if he did not remain quiet and follow orders.

Only this week Commander Shabir Hussain, a senior Asian officer, took the force to a tribunal. He accused the commissioner of excluding black and Asian detectives in favour of a "golden circle" of white officers.

Commander Shabir Hussain, 45, claimed he was passed over for promotion by Sir Ian an "unprecedented" four times.

On Tuesday, he said: "My face did not fit and did not fit because I am not white."