Gurpal
Virdi returns to work with £90,000
(6th February 2002)
Having
won his fight to clear his name and reputation, Metropolitan Police
Sergeant Gurpal Virdi is set to go back to what he does best - fighting
crime. Mr Virdi today signed a settlement agreement with the Met
at the CRE.
As
part of the agreement the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir
John Stevens, will tomorrow give Mr Virdi a letter of apology at
New Scotland Yard. In the letter, Sir John says the Met now recognises
the suffering caused to Mr Virdi, his family and the local Sikh
community because of the way his case was handled.
The
Met is due to pay compensation of £90,000 to Mr Virdi for
injury to his feelings. This follows a previous compensation award
decided by an employment tribunal in December 2000.
In
1998 Mr Virdi was wrongly accused of sending racist literature to
colleagues. Since then, his personal integrity and reputation have
been severely tarnished and his family life profoundly affected.
He has fought his case with dignity through months of criminal investigation
followed by civil litigation to prove he was the victim of racial
discrimination and not the perpetrator of crimes against his colleagues.
Mr
Virdi said "This is the end of a long and extremely traumatic
process for me and my family. This settlement means I can get back
to what I am best at - high quality policing that serves my community."
CRE
Lawyer Lisa Connerty added " It's welcome news that Mr Virdi
is returning to the service and that the Met are welcoming him back.
He is just the kind of talented officer they cannot do without."
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