Edwina Currie's brother accused of bullying by police colleague

Edwina Currie's brother Henry has been accused of bullying
13 April 2012

A former police superintendent has claimed that Edwina Currie's "vindictive" brother made his life a misery at work when he reported him for bullying.

Michael Jackson MBE accused the ex-Health Minister's brother Henry Cohen of "behaviour which included use of homophobic, sexist and foul and abusive language which, in my view, have no place in the modern police environment".

Mr Jackson, 57, is suing the Police Information and Technology Organisation where they both worked for discrimination on the grounds of sex, race and sexual orientation.

The married father-of-one, who has an unblemished 40 year career as a public servant, claims that his complaints about Cohen were ignored by bosses at PITO, which runs police IT systems.

Instead Mr Jackson himself was investigated for alleged misconduct for voicing his concerns, South London Employment Tribunal heard.

It was eight months before he was formally cleared and the threat of disciplinary action hanging over him ended.

He suffered severe stress and is now signed off sick and dependent on anti-depressants.

Giving evidence, Mr Jackson told how he served in Essex police between 1965 and 1998, rising to the rank of superintendent.

He received 12 commendations over the years from High Court judges and chief constables and was awarded the MBE in recognition of his outstanding public service.

After retiring from the force, Mr Jackson, who has a masters degree in business administration made use of his computer expertise.

By 2005, he was earning £70,000-a-year as PITO's national implementation manager, reporting to programme director Henry Cohen.

Mr Jackson, from Bishop's Stortford, Essex, said: "I developed a number of concerns about Henry Cohen.

"The most significant were the concerns as to his conduct, which in my opinion, amounted to bullying and his behaviour, which included use of homophobic, sexist and foul and abusive language, which, in my view, has no place in a modern police environment.

"Henry Cohen's behaviour continued despite the fact that I raised it as an issue with him on a number of occasions."

He said that Cohen singled out Superintendent Nick Barnard in particular for "bullying and intimidation".

Mr Jackson said he was left with no choice but to make a formal complaint about Cohen even though he feared he risked reprisals.

He said: "I was well aware of Henry Cohen's vindictive streak and that he was likely to make life very difficult for me."

He went on: "In my opinion, subsequently I was the subject of victimisation by Henry Cohen." Mr Jackson said that PITO chiefs showed no interest in his grievance and Cohen remained in his post.

Instead, Mr Jackson found himself under investigation for alleged serious professional misconduct.

He said: "As a result of my treatment by PITO, I have suffered an acute stress reaction and depression."

PITO and Cohen strenuously deny all Mr Jackson's allegations. The case continues.

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