Muslim Policeman Accessed Brother's File in Honour Killing Case

An officer serving with Greater Manchester Police checked the force computer for details of his brother's case.

The brother in question was later convicted of murder.

Of course, the entire incident is just one of the many ways in which Greater Manchester Police racially discriminated against Umar Khan and prevented him from being promoted to Inspector.

From Manchester Evening News:

AN Asian police officer checked a force computer for information about his brother who was a suspect in an honour killing, an employment tribunal heard.

Sgt Umer Khan admitted he had been `wrong' to access files about Khyber Khan, who was later convicted of murder.

But he said he only did it for `policing purposes' and had `personally assisted' in the investigation.

Sgt Khan, a 35-year-old father-of-two, has taken Greater Manchester Police to the tribunal, claiming he was prevented from becoming an inspector on the grounds of race.

He claims his managers treated him differently to white colleagues, because bosses assumed he was part of a large, `stereotypical' Asian family and so must have known all his relatives' business.

Sgt Khan, based in Oldham, broke down as he gave evidence to the Manchester tribunal and said he felt he had been `held responsible' for the `tragic events' in his family. He accused the force of `shattering and destroying' his career dreams.

He added: "Despite GMP's philosophy, I have come to learn as a minority ethnic officer that I have not been treated with the same level of respect, dignity and the same level of fairness as white officers. I hope the people who have treated me this way will reflect on the way I've been treated."

Sgt Khan said `all hell broke loose' in September 2005, when his brother-in-law Mohammed Shaheen was shot dead. The tribunal heard he was accused of failing to tell detectives about the location of his brother, Khyber Khan and threatening a family member.

The Crown Prosecution Service ruled no action should be taken on those claims. But Sgt Khan was given `formal words of advice' for looking on the force computer seven times for information on his brother.

Sgt Khan insisted he had merely wanted to log new intelligence about his brother and carry out `bona fide police work', although he later admitted he was wrong.

He said even though the sanction was `not a finding of guilt and not a punishment', he was informed later he would have to wait a year before being considered for promotion.

He claimed he was frozen out by senior colleagues, which he called `bullying', when he started a grievance procedure. Asked why he had accessed police computer records, he replied: "I did it for policing purposes given Khyber Khan had criminal activities. "I personally assisted officers within GMP in respect of the allegations against him and also placed intelligence about him on the police computer."

Pressed further, he added: "I accept I was wrong." Sgt Khan, who joined the force in 1995, helped police in Oldham introduce so-called `neighbourhood policing' as part of a series of Home Office pilots which was later adopted nationwide. After promotion to sergeant he passed an exam in 2004 at the first attempt enabling him to become an inspector and also won a place on GMP's leadership programme, Prospect.

Did Mr Khan ever wonder whether or not his behaviour fuelled any 'stereotypes' his colleagues may have had about him? He's hardly the poster boy for Asian police recruitment - I wouldn't imagine any officer would be expected to investigate an immediate family member, as there are clear conflicts of interest whatever the background.

Did he ever wonder if perhaps they did not want a man who clearly cannot be trusted leading other officers and charged with their career progression?