Final Report of the Morris Inquiry: The Case for Change

THE CASE FOR CHANGE
10.69 We see this as part of the pattern of the MPS’ difficulty in managing
difference which we have identified more generally.
10.70 We have received evidence in relation to race discrimination from
Superintendent Dizaei, the NBPA and others. In the absence of a full case review,
we are not satisfied, on the evidence we have received, that race discrimination
occurred.
10.71 However, we particularly note the following observations from our
independent investigators:
“Soon after transferring to the force Superintendent Dizaei was posted to the Borough
of Kensington.
“This Borough has a large Farsi/Iranian community and as such this could have be seen as a
good move for the force, the officer and the community. Unfortunately little to no regard for
the pressure such a transfer would put on the officer, from the Iranian Moslem community,
appears to have been considered and as such his personal/professional roles became merged.
As he had no formal briefing with regard to how much involvement he could have with this
community he found himself in a position where he was able to get involved in the
community, but was not functioning in an official capacity. This position would result in
members of the community having expectations of him in his professional role that were
beyond that which a police officer was able to deliver. This situation could be interpreted as
unfair treatment based on race. However, the review considers it was more of a strategic and
operational failing in respect of supporting officers from specific communities to manage
professional and social pressures that result from a posting such as this.
“Consideration has also been given to failings by senior officers to curb Superintendent
Dizaei’s activities in respect of his community contacts and although this probably occurred as
a result of the intelligence gathering operation that commenced in the summer of 1999, it
clearly put the force in a difficult and vulnerable position. This situation could be considered as
being unfair, but is not based on race.
“The review has examined an official MPS record touching on this subject of intervention
(dated 05.01.01 by a Detective Chief Superintendent). The document has tried to defend the
MPS position but unfortunately it is dated in excess of eighteen months after the officer has
been posted to the Kensington community and some twelve months after the second part of
the operation commenced. There is no decision log entry or other record, which addresses
the issues surrounding management intervention in August 1999 …
“With regard to the arrest of Superintendent Dizaei in May 2001 the review has had sight of
an MPS document headed ‘Operational Strategy’. This document is undated, but it has clearly
been prepared around the time that the operation was moving from the covert to overt stage.
“Contained within this document is a paragraph, which reads,‘Mozart will not be arrested at
this stage, the evidence to justify doing so is weak’. No further record or Decision Log entry
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