Nadeem Saddique secures £450,000 Cleveland Police payout

PC Nadeem Saddique lodged a complaint about colleagues displaying "robust racism"

A policeman who was victimised by fellow officers because he is Asian has won £457,664 in compensation from Cleveland Police.

Last November a tribunal found firearms officer Nadeem Saddique had been discriminated against.

The force agreed to help him back to work, but he will now retire on grounds of ill health in December.

PC Saddique, who helped guard Tony Blair and members of the Royal Family, originally sought a total of £628,000

'Equality training'

He said this would cover loss of earnings, the cost of retraining and compensate for the ill health he and his family had suffered as a result of his treatment. Cleveland Police offered him one year's salary, he said.

The force said: "We are saddened that Mr Saddique is unable to progress his career as a police officer and wish him well for the future."

After an employment tribunal judge ruled in favour of Mr Saddique at Teesside Magistrates' Court last year, a force spokesperson said training sessions on "equality, diversity and human rights and cultural awareness" had been delivered since the case.

During the hearing, PC Saddique, of Stockton, Teesside, alleged he was forced out of the force's firearms unit and resented by colleagues.

He was the only Asian member of the unit and felt he was unfairly treated when he was removed from VIP duties, having previously helped guard royals and the former prime minister.

Among a number of allegations, the tribunal was told superiors were heard plotting to force him out of the department while on a night out at a pub.

The panel concluded "the majority of his claims were well founded".

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is investigating the matter.