Asian officer was 'racially victimised'

Merseyside Police said it was considering the judgement

An Asian policeman was victimised by senior officers because of his race, a tribunal has ruled.

Pc Sadruddin Husain, 43, took Merseyside Police to a tribunal after he was disciplined for failing to explain a parking ticket he received while on duty.

The tribunal, in Liverpool, was told he was believed to be the first officer ever to be disciplined for such an offence.

In a printed decision, the tribunal said Mr Husain was unlawfully victimised, contrary to the Race Relations Act.

The statement read: "Neither the applicant nor the Police Federation had ever known anyone else disciplined for such an offence."

I am delighted that the employment tribunal found in my favour and everything I said was the truth Pc Sadruddin Husain

It said the sergeant who had brought the disciplinary proceedings "admitted that he had never before submitted a failure to pay fixed penalty notice for disciplinary proceedings, and he had been in the force for 24 years".

A senior manager within the force had also adopted a "bullying and aggressive attitude" towards Mr Husain, the tribunal ruled.

But other claims of racist victimisation were dismissed.

Mr Husain, a father-of-two from West Kirkby, joined the force in 1982 but has been on sick leave since 2001.

He said: "I am delighted that the employment tribunal found in my favour and everything I said was the truth.

"I hope there can now be some sort of closure to this so that I can get on with my life."

A Merseyside Police spokeswoman said it was considering the judgement, which it had just received and would not be discussing the matter further.