Final Report of the Morris Inquiry: The Case for Change

THE CASE FOR CHANGE
● 16 April 1998
Police Sergeant Virdi suspended from duty in early
hours of the day. A national newspaper publishes an
article relating to the arrest, search of home and
suspension of an Asian officer. News items also on ITV,
BBC and Asian news.
● 17 April 1998
Police Sergeant Virdi interviewed under caution on
audiotape and denied any connection with the
sending of racist mail.
● 28 June 1998
Police Sergeant Virdi instigates proceedings in the
Employment Tribunal.
● 30 June 1998
External computer specialist is asked to examine the
seized computer equipment from Ealing police station.
● 25 August 1999
Solicitors appointed by the Police Federation on behalf
of Police Sergeant Virdi sought an adjournment of the
discipline hearing, as their computer expert was not
ready.
● 1 September 1999
MPS agreed to the adjournment.
● 24 September 1999
New hearing date set for 7 February 2000 for four
weeks.
● 26 October 1999
Pre-hearing set for 15 December 1999 to deal with
any submissions.
● 15 December 1999
Pre-hearing held. Discipline hearing convened.
● 7 July 1998
Search warrant executed at Hanwell and Ealing police
stations searching lockers for the remaining nine
copies of the second racist document.
● 7 February 2000
Disciplinary Panel hears legal arguments concerning
the admission of members of the Independent
Advisory Group (IAG) to observe proceedings.
● July 1998 – July 2000
Six Directions Hearings held, mainly awaiting the
outcome of MPS internal processes.
● 6 October 1998
Police Sergeant Virdi interviewed under caution.
● 19 October 1998
File of evidence submitted to the CPS for advice on
whether to charge Police Sergeant Virdi with sending
racist mail.
● 3 March 2000
Discipline hearing concluded. Police Sergeant Virdi is
dismissed from the service on 11 charges and
reprimanded on three charges.
● June 2000
Report of the IAG into the case of Police Sergeant
Virdi.
● 2 June 2000
Police Sergeant Virdi sets out grounds for appeal.
● 9 February 1999
The CPS advises that no criminal charges should be
brought.
● 22 March 1999
File of evidence on Police Sergeant Virdi sent to MPS
solicitors for counsel’s advice in respect of discipline
charges.
● 29 April 1999
Police Sergeant Virdi informed of date of hearing and
supplied with a copy of the charges.
● 30 June 1999
Discipline papers served on Police Sergeant Virdi.
● 7 June 2000
Police Sergeant Virdi lodged a further claim with the
Employment Tribunal relating to his treatment at the
discipline hearing.
● 3-7 July 2000
Interim decision of the Employment Tribunal.
● 9 August 2000
Reserved decision of the Employment Tribunal which
found, on the balance of probabilities, that there was
no evidence that Police Sergeant Virdi produced the
racist letters; a fellow white officer was treated
differently during the course of the investigation; the
explanations put forward by the MPS, as representing
good investigation practice, were not sustainable or
justifiable; and the reasons for the failings of the MPS
in the investigation were not incompetence but that
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