Police inspector victim of sexism

Mrs Daniel leaves the tribunal in Birmingham which ruled she was a victim of a sexist decision

A "wrong and sexist" decision blighted a woman police inspector's career, an industrial tribunal has ruled.

Inspector Shirley Daniel, 49, was denied promotion to Chief Inspector simply because she was a woman, the tribunal panel decided.

The tribunal, which came to its decision after 24 days of evidence, has been adjourned to allow the parties to try to reach a compensation settlement.

Tribunal chairman Christopher Goodchild described a June 1995 decision to limit applications for the post in the career development department of Warwickshire Police to chief inspectors with two years experience as a "straightforward sexist" decision.

The amended job description was aimed "specifically to prevent a woman getting a job"

The chairman said the inquiry panel viewed the decision to amend the job description as taken deliberately by a now retired officer, Chief Superintendent Richard Allsopp "specifically to prevent a woman getting a job".

Mr Goodchild said Mrs Daniel was "perceived as a woman and as a woman would not be up to that particular job - it's as simple as that. It was a straightforward sexist decision.

"Her career was blighted by a wrong, sexist decision and in effect she did not and could not become that which she had a genuine ambition to be."

The tribunal heard that no one applied for the post after the job description was altered. A serving officer had to be "recruited" to fill the vacancy.

The panel's judgment recorded the fact that they believed Mrs Daniel would have got the job if the amendment had not been made.

Mr Goodchild said the case had been a "sad story" in which the panel had been forced to criticise people whose lives had been devoted to public service.

Peter Joslin, the Chief Constable of Warwickshire Police said in a statement issued after the hearing that there were "lessons to be learnt" from Mrs Daniel's case.

But the statement expressed "surprise" at the tribunal's findings.

Mrs Daniel has almost 30 years police service

Mrs Daniel's solicitor, Sue Ashtiany, said her client hoped to agree a compensation figure with the police force before the date set in July for a remedy ruling by the tribunal.

Mrs Daniel, who is currently on leave but has almost 30 years police service, will meet representatives of the force next week to discuss her future.

She said: "I am delighted at the outcome, but also sad that it has taken so long. It has made me very sad throughout my service that I have not been able to achieve what I wanted despite working hard.

"This decision may make things better for other women [who join the force] in the future."

The tribunal found that Mrs Daniel was not deliberately passed over for another job and dismissed allegations that the Warwickshire force was a "secretive, masonic cabal".

The tribunal chairman stressed the Warwickshire was not "a sexist police force" and had made great strides in its equal opportunities policy.