LONDON: A Sikh policeman who was refused a dozen applications to join the police force in his home town is set to receive a five-figure compensation for racial discrimination.

Sangram Singh Bhacker, who comes from Manchester, about 320 km from here, had been trying to join his home city’s police force for 18 years but was turned down despite having served five other police forces in England.

Andrew Marston, head of personnel at Greater Manchester Police, wrote to Bhacker last year: "I am not prepared to consider you as a potential transferee with the GMP now or in the future," prompting the policeman to complain to an employment tribunal.

The tribunal ruled: "Our conclusion is the respondent discriminated against the claimant on the basis of his ethnic origin."

Bhacker, who is currently employed at the British Transport Police, described his victory as "a confirmation of my suspicions of racism within GMP". A spokesman for GMP said: "There were legitimate reasons for him not being appointed and these were in no way connected to racism."

timesofindia.com