London: A Sikh policeman has been awarded almost 10,000 pounds in damages for racial discrimination after British police force rejected a dozen job applications from him. Sangram Singh-Bhacker, 41, an Indian from Manchester, had been trying to transfer to the city since 1990, but despite having served for 16 years with five other forces in Britain, his applications were repeatedly refused by Greater Manchester Police (GMP).

He now works for British Transport Police and has abandoned any hopes of working in Manchester. A tribunal found GMP guilty of racial discrimination and condemned the force both for its refusal to employ the officer and the way it later sought to impugn his integrity, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Singh-Bhacker was awarded 5,000 pounds for injury to his feelings , 4,000 pounds in aggravated damages and 400 pounds in travel expenses. The aggravated damages were awarded because of the way GMP had attacked his integrity without any supporting documentation.

A GMP spokesman said, We regularly accept transfers of officers from other forces if they meet the rigorous standards we require. These officers are drawn from many different communities, including the Asian community.

Source : UNI