Met 'anarchy' as Muslim officer lashes out in book

Chief Superintendent Ali Dizaei: Stirring up controversy
13 April 2012

Britain's top policeman Sir Ian Blair has been accused of unleashing 'anarchy' by failing to block the publication of a controversial book by a serving senior Muslim officer.

Chief Superintendent Ali Dizaei makes an astonishing attack on the conduct of Metropolitan Police colleagues who, he claims, launched a vendetta against him during a corruption inquiry.

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• Dizaei's Met harrassment claims 'very serious'

He also alleges Scotland Yard chiefs conducted a campaign of harassment against the National Black Police Association, to which he is legal adviser, as part of its attempt to discredit him.

His memoirs are being serialised in a national newspaper just days before he learns whether he will be promoted to the rank of Commander on a salary of £90,000.

The book - entitled Not One of Us - has prompted fury at New Scotland Yard amid the belief it is being tolerated by top brass because of fears of a backlash from some ethnic minority officers.

It is also claimed that the serialisation has been timed to put pressure on the promotion board, which is being advised by Sir Ian. Mr Dizaei insists, however, that it has not been 'stage managed'.

Although he has expressed sorrow-about the publication, Sir Ian has done nothing to stop it.

Last night two members of his force's watchdog - the Metropolitan Police Authority -questioned why Mr Dizaei's book had not been blocked.

Tory member Richard Barnes said Iranian-born Mr Dizaei could have been stopped from publishing the book under the police disciplinary-code.

'Once again senior management have failed to manage an embarrassing situation and have let down the service, one disciplinary code for the majority and exemptions for others,' he said.

'Sheer bloody anarchy reigns. Who is afraid of whom and why?'

Another member, Damian Hockney of the One London Party, said: 'At a time when Ali Dizaei is a candidate for promotion, this book is tantamount to a challenge to the interview panel not to reject his promotion, and is a dangerous precedent.'

On Tuesday Sir Ian - who while Deputy Commissioner oversaw the ill-fated corruption inquiry into Mr Dizaei - will advise a four-person Police Authority panel on the officer's suitability to fill one of four vacant commanders' posts in the Met.

A decision to promote Mr Dizaei, 44, will be met with anger from scores of officers who believe he lacks the integrity to be appointed commander.

But should he be turned down for a more senior post, the powerful National Black Police Association is expected to be extremely critical.

Four years ago Sir Ian and other senior officers were adamant that Mr Dizaei - who has also applied to be an Assistant Chief Constable in West Midlands Police - was not fit to carry a police badge.

They made their views known shortly before the married father of three was cleared following a disastrous multi-million-pound internal inquiry into his conduct.

The corruption probe had been launched amid claims the officer was living beyond his means and was involved in drugs, consorted with prostitutes and was even connected with the Iranian secret service.

It resulted in Mr Dizaei facing charges of perverting the course of justice in 2003. He was later acquitted at the Old Bailey.

No disciplinary action was taken after the Met - under pressure from then Home Secretary David Blunkett - came to a controversial deal with Mr Dizaei, which was brokered by Sir Ian.

In return for him dropping a race discrimination claim, he was told all outstanding counts against him would be scrapped and that he would receive £60,000 compensation.

Mr Dizaei's book is being serialised in the Times.

Among his claims are allegations his supporters were falsely briefed that he was a suspect in a rape inquiry.

The Daily Mail can reveal that the allegations, which were considered by the Crown Prosecution Service, included claims that a woman was raped by Mr Dizaei and another man after a drunken game of 'strip poker' in Tottenham, North London.

The woman claims she was too scared to immediately report the case to police because Mr Dizaei was an officer and 'no one would believe her'.

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