Met Police chief Ali Dizaei is reinstated as Scotland Yard commander - despite still facing corruption re-trial

Met Police chief Ali Dizaei is reinstated as Scotland Yard commander - despite still facing corruption re-trial

'I am delighted to be reinstated. I have always wanted to be a Met Police officer and now vow to clear my name'
Dizaei, 49, due to stand trial accused of misconduct in a public office and perverting the course of justice

By James White

Last updated at 10:42 AM on 30th September 2011


Former commander Ali Dizaei claims a police appeal tribunal has 'unanimously' dismissed his sacking

A former police chief facing trial for corruption has been reinstated as a commander at Scotland Yard following an appeal against his dismissal, he said today.
Ali Dizaei claimed a police appeal tribunal had 'unanimously' dismissed his sacking.
He added: 'I am delighted to be reinstated. I have always wanted to be a Met Police officer and now vow to clear my name.'
A spokesman for the the Metropolitan Police refused to comment on the claim.

The country’s former highest-ranking Muslim officer was jailed for four years in February 2010 after being found guilty of misconduct in public office and perverting the course of justice.
He was later sacked as a £90,000-a-year Metropolitan Police commander.
However, three Appeal Court judges later ruled Dizaei’s convictions should be quashed.

Dizaei, 49, is due to stand trial early next year accused of misconduct in a public office and perverting the course of justice.
The prosecution follows an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

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The charges are linked to an incident outside the Persian Yas restaurant in Kensington, West London, on July 18, 2008.


Back at the force: Dizaei walks hand-in-hand with his wife, Shai
Iranian-born Dizaei, who was wearing his uniform on the date in question, is accused of arresting a man after a row despite knowing he did not have reasonable grounds to do so.

He is also alleged to have perverted the course of justice by falsely claiming in written statements that he was a victim of an unprovoked assault by the man.

The senior officer, a former president of the National Black Police Association, pleaded not guilty to the charges at a court hearing in June.
In a statement issued by his solicitors, it said: 'Commander Dizaei has always maintained that his previous dismissal from the Metropolitan Police Force pending his criminal appeal was in haste and unfair.
'That appeal was heard in May of this year and resulted in the quashing of Commander Dizaei's criminal convictions.
'Commander Dizaei has ongoing proceedings in the Employment tribunal against the Metropolitan Police Authority and a number of senior individuals in that organisation relating to the way in which Commander Dizaei has been treated over a substantial period of time.'

The allegations against Dizaei stem from an incident that took place at the Yas restaurant, pictured, in Kensington, London
In May, Dizaei learned that his phone had apparently been hacked by investigators working for the News Of The World and vowed to take legal action.

He said at the time: 'I am shocked, appalled and very disappointed that this was not highlighted earlier.

'This could be the first time that it has been confirmed that a police phone may have been hacked by the News Of The World.

'At the time I was a legal adviser to the National Black Police Association. I was giving confidential information. Communication interceptions are very unlawful.'


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Ali Dizaei suspended from Met again hours after claiming he was reinstated

Ex-police commander whose corruption convictions were quashed hailed appeal victory only to be given bad news later


Haroon Siddique
guardian.co.uk, Friday 30 September 2011 18.35 BST


Ali Dizaei, who was dismissed from the Metropolitan police over corruption convictions which were later quashed. Photograph: Andrew Winning/Reuters


Ali Dizaei has been suspended from duty at Scotland Yard, just hours after he announced he had won his appeal against dismissal from the force.

The former police chief was sacked after being found guilty of corruption, but theconviction was quashed in May of this year. He faces a retrial on the charges early next year.

On Friday morning, Dizaei expressed his delight at his reinstatement by a home office panel but later on Friday afternoon, his employer, the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA), having initially refused to comment, took the wind out of his sails by announcing that its professional standards cases sub-committee (PSCSC) had suspended Dizaei on full pay.

The MPA said the sub-committee met on Thursday and "after careful deliberation unanimously decided to suspend him". It said the decision was not formally notified to Dizaei until 4pm on Friday.

The former National Black Police Association president's return would have been an embarrassing prospect for Scotland Yard and the MPA. Confirming his reinstatement, before the announcement by the MPA, PBS Law, which represents Dizaei referred to his battles with the force and the MPA. It said: "Commander Dizaei has always maintained that his previous dismissal from the Metropolitan Police Force pending his criminal appeal was in haste and unfair.

"That appeal was heard in May of this year and resulted in the quashing of Commander Dizaei's criminal convictions.

"Commander Dizaei has ongoing proceedings in the employment tribunal against the Metropolitan Police Authority and a number of senior individuals in that organisation relating to the way in which Commander Dizaei has been treated over a substantial period of time."

Dizaei has also been a vocal critic of the Yard's record on race and some of his colleagues were said to have greeted his conviction last year by popping champagne corks

Before the sub-committee's decision was communicated to him, Dizaei said he was delighted by the decision to uphold his appeal, which was taken by the Police Appeals Tribunal (PAT) – whose members are appointed by the Home Office – on Wednesday.

The MPA said: "On 28 September 2011, the Police Appeals Tribunal (PAT), whose members are appointed by the Home Office, met to consider Dr Ali Dizaei's appeal against his dismissal from the Metropolitan police service.

"The PAT upheld his appeal against dismissal. On receipt of their decision on 29 September, the Metropolitan Police Authority's professional standards cases sub-committee (PSCSC) immediately convened to consider the current status of outstanding matters concerning Commander Dizaei.

"On receipt of their decision on 29 September, the Metropolitan Police Authority's professional standards cases sub-committee (PSCSC) immediately convened to consider the current status of outstanding matters concerning Commander Dizaei.

"After careful deliberation the PSCSC unanimously decided to suspend him. Suspension is not a disciplinary sanction and it is emphasised that suspension should not be taken as a presumption of guilt. This has been approved by the IPCC in accordance with police regulations. Commander Dizaei was formally notified by the MPA at 4pm on Friday 30 September 2011."

Dizaei was jailed for four years in January 2010 after a jury at Southwark crown court found that he had abused his position as a police officer and tried to frame a young web designer in a row over £600. Dizaei was dismissed from the police service in disgrace, ending a 25-year career. But in May this year, the court of appeal quashed the conviction after new evidence was presented.

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candyfloss wrote:Dizaei was jailed for four years in January 2010

This was under the Labour Governments's watch, so perhaps there has been many wrongs that need to be put right under this new Government.