London, Feb. 4 (ANI): A senior ethnic minority police officer in Britain has accused chief constables of not understanding the need for more black and Asian recruits.
Chief Superintendent Dal Babu is quitting the Metropolitan Police after being rejected for promotion to chief officer rank.
The 49 year-old was considered unsuitable to assume the top rank because his media interview skills were not of a suitable standard despite having a glittering CV, the Guardian reported.
According to the Telegraph, the 49-year-old speaks four languages, holds a master's degree, was awarded an OBE for services to police and community in 2010 and is thought to be behind rising public confidence ratings in the North London borough he is in charge of.
Babu, who retires from Britain's biggest police force after 30 years' service, attacked his colleagues who he claimed 'don't get it', when it came to understanding the need for more black and Asian recruits.
The officer, originally from Walsall, West Mids, said that 'radical measures' were needed so police had a better understanding of different cultures, but added that the Met had made 'good progress' over ethnic recruitment, the report said.
According to the report, Babu, who is of Indian heritage and helped found the National Association of Muslim Police, said there was a 'business case' as well as 'moral' reasons for raising numbers, particularly in specialist units.
His comments came after one of the country's leading chief constables said police forces should be able to positively discriminate amid a growing diversity crisis in law enforcement.
Sir Peter Fahy, the head of Greater Manchester Police, said constabularies should be able to hire in favour of black and ethnic minority officers.
But Ch Supt Babu, who has spent the past three-and-a-half years as commander of the London borough of Harrow, said many chief constables had been resistant to change, the report said.
Ch Supt Babu, who joined the Met police in 1983, said a fresh approach was needed but said it could be done without new legislation.
He was refused a place on the strategic command course for the next generation of chief constables and chose to retire, the report added. (ANI)
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