Race remark Pc's joy at reinstatement

Reinstated Pc Steve Hutt says his life has been ruined

A policeman sacked for making a racist remark has spoken of his joy at getting his job back - but the move has angered some black police officers.

Pc Steve Hutt spoke of his "living hell" after returning to Scotland Yard to meet colleagues who successfully campaigned for him to be reinstated.

The officer was sacked after calling a teenage suspect a "black bastard" in February 1999.

But the Metropolitan Police branch of the Black Police Association condemned Pc Hutt's reinstatement.

Its chairman, Inspector Leroy Logan said: "This decision unleashes a licence to be racist."

Pc Hutt, who will now only be fined 13 days pay, offered emotional thanks to all his supporters and revealed how his two-year ordeal had ruined his life.

Pc Hutt was on anti-hooligan van patrol in Fulham, west London, in February 1999 when the incident which led to his sacking occured.

Among those campaigning for Pc Hutt was black Detective Constable Mona Pope

A 14-year-old youth was arrested and put into the back of the van and, after trying to pacify him for some time, Pc Hutt eventually pushed him into the seat with one hand and shouted: "Sit down, you black bastard."

He was subsequently suspended and a disciplinary tribunal dismissed him from the force.

Speaking on Friday, Pc Hutt says he has spoken to other officers who fear the consequences of dealing with black youths.

Thousands of police officers signed a petition demanding his reinstatement and on Thursday he was given his job back after an appeal to Home Secretary Jack Straw.

A black detective who campaigned on Pc Hutt's behalf urged disciplinary panels to use discretion.

Detective Constable Mona Pope said: "Sixteen thousand of us, black and white, including myself have supported Steve and I am quite sure that had the campaign gone on, then further officers would have supported him.

"I am now asking management to use that very discretion when it is appropriate."

She said: "There was not a shred of evidence that it was with racial intent. In fact Steve's background shows he didn't have racial views."

Another supporter Pc Norman Brennan, criticised senior officers for being "politically correct" and said the case proved they were out of touch with rank and file officers.

But the Metropolitan Police branch of the Black Police Association condemned Pc Hutt's reinstatement.

Licence for racism

"This decision unleashes a licence to be racist," said its chairman, Inspector Leroy Logan.

"It undermines the good work done since the Lawrence inquiry, giving a clear signal that it is acceptable to be racist with justification and a good lobby."

Pc Hutt said he was looking forward to returning to work on 2 January and was both overwhelmed and terrified at all that had happened.

He said: "At times I have wondered if I'm the monster I was accused of being.

"I would not be here if it had not been for the petition. The support's been tremendous. People have stopped me in the street and said I had been treated unfairly."

A tearful Pc Hutt met supporters on his return to Scotland Yard

Describing his two-year campaign to get his job back, he said: "I've had two years of hell.

"I was on the brink of a breakdown and struggling to support my children.

"My life has been ruined. I've been made homeless and was sleeping on friends' floors."

Pc Hutt admitted he had made the comment and, after being sacked he said he had done it "in a moment of madness" and that he bitterly regretted it.

Pc Brennan added: "Hundreds of police officers, including myself, thought the punishment for swearing at a youth spitting in your face and threatening to assault you was certainly too severe."

"Police officers are not clones. We are human beings and we make mistakes.

"When we are being shot at, stabbed at, spat at and abused ... on a daily basis, sometimes we will make a mistake.

"It's now up to the senior management in the police service whom I'm afraid are so politically correct, they are out of touch with the front line police officers."