Three white cops denied promotion due to race

Police officials attempted to justify their actions by claiming it was part of a diversity program that had not yet been established. However, their decision to promote an "Asian" sergeant to the rank of detective inspector without going through a competitive process has resulted in a discrimination claim from three white police officers who were passed over for the promotion.

Detective Inspector Phillip Turner-Robson, Inspector Graham Horton, and Custody Inspector Kirsteen Bishop, who have a combined experience of decades, filed a claim against Thames Valley Police, stating that they were at a disadvantage because of their race - "white British". The incident took place in August 2022 when officials were discussing the possibility of hiring a detective inspector for the "priority crime team" in Aylesbury. Turner-Robson, who had intended to apply for the position, found out that it had not been advertised to staff.

In September 2022, Superintendent Emma Baillie, following the orders of Deputy Chief Constable Jason Hogg, promoted Sergeant Sidhu (whose first name was not mentioned) to the position of detective inspector. However, Sidhu had not even been promoted to inspector yet, and this decision was made without any competitive process. This prompted the three claimants to take legal action against the force.

During the tribunal, Baillie tried to justify her decision by claiming that it was part of a "BAME Progression Programme" that did not exist at the time. However, Employment Judge Robin Postle saw this as a clear case of positive discrimination, stating that the decision was made without proper consideration. In fact, Baillie and Hogg had been warned about the risks of implementing such a policy.

The tribunal's decision, which was recently published, concluded that the fast-tracked promotion of Sidhu was a form of positive discrimination, as it disadvantaged the officers who did not share Sidhu's race and were not given the opportunity to apply for the position. The tribunal also noted that the claimants were treated less favorably than Sidhu, who was simply given the promotion without having to go through a competitive process, despite their expressed interest in the role.

In the end, Judge Postle ruled that the force had discriminated against the three officers based on their race. Baillie's focus was on "making it work" rather than conducting a fair and balanced evaluation. This decision has sparked a debate on the use of diversity schemes and the potential consequences of positive discrimination.

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