POLICE and Crime Commissioner Matthew Barber has ordered a review in the wake of a tribunal, which found that three officers were passed over for promotions for reasons based on their race.
Three Thames Valley Police officers won a discrimination claim last month after a judge ruled that their race played a part in the decision not to promote them.
Judge Robin Postle said that the officers, who are all described by the tribunal as being “white British,” were overlooked for promotion as a result of “positive discrimination.”
Detective inspector Phillip Turner-Robson, inspector Graham Horton and custody inspector Kirsteen Bishop had all been working for the force for around two decades, but were “blocked” from applying for the role of detective inspector in Ayelsbury in August 2022.
However the role was given to an Asian officer after one of the force’s superintendents was told to “make it happen,” the tribunal heard, without a formal competitive process.
Now, following the ruling, Matthew Barber, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, has called for a review into the policies and process of promotion and selection.
He said in a statement: “It is critical in building confidence across our whole community that there is never any discrimination in policing.
“In this case, the Employment Tribunal found that the Force had discriminated against the claimants on the basis of race–this is clearly unacceptable and should not have happened.
He explained: “I recognise Thames Valley Police’s commitment to building a workforce that represents the whole community, but it is apparent from the judgement that the Force was wrong on this occasion in that the processes it followed were not fair, transparent, or competitive.
“I am clear that Thames Valley Police must treat everyone equally when making appointments, determined solely on merit.
“I will ensure a full review into the processes, policies and approach by the Force to ensure this cannot happen in the future.”
He added: “There must be no place for any form of discrimination in policing and I expect the Chief Constable to ensure that all communities are treated equally by Thames Valley Police.”
