Met pays £200,000 to sex ordeal officer

A woman detective has won £200,000 compensation for years of "appalling" sexual harassment at a Metropolitan Police training college.

Detective Sergeant Georgina Shanley, 42, was repeatedly humiliated and insulted for four years by several male colleagues at the Met's Detective Training School in Hendon.

In one incident "something of a sexual nature" - believed to be an extremely explicit picture - was deliberately put on display to embarrass her.

Miss Shanley was so distressed by the harassment that she has not worked since she went on sick leave in September 2002. Her job was to help train 3,000 detectives a year in fields such as counter-terrorism, computer crime and sex offences.

The Met had initially planned to contest her allegations at a tribunal last week. But when they realised the strength of her case police lawyers asked for an adjournment to allow last-minute negotiations. They reached a settlement with Miss Shanley, who is now bound by a confidentiality agreement. But a source close to the case described it as "one of the worst" examples of sexual harassment in the British police.

"Once the full details emerged, senior officers realised there was no point contesting her claim," the source told the Daily Mail. "Miss Shanley suffered an appalling ordeal at the hands of these men.

"It beggars belief that something like this could still happen in the Met."

The Met has launched a new investigation into the harassment which could result in

the disciplining or dismissal of several constables and sergeants. An initial internal inquiry had found Miss Shanley's allegations unfounded.

The force released a statement confirming that it was "taken to an employment tribunal by DS Georgina Shanley who alleged sexual discrimination and harassment".

It added: "We have negotiated a settlement with the applicant, the details of which are confidential

" The Metropolitan police will not tolerate any sexism or other inappropriate conduct in the workplace and we strive to ensure all members of staff are treated with respect and dignity."

The case will also come as an embarrassment to Deputy Commissioner Sir Ian Blair who has been critical of the "canteen culture" of prejudice among officers.

Last August, the force agreed to pay £270,000 to Eileen Waters after a 16-year legal battle.

She said officers ignored her when she reported being raped by a fellow officer in 1987.