A former firearms officer, Rebecca Kalam, has won a sex discrimination case against West Midlands Police. She was awarded more than £820,000 after suing the police for sex discrimination, harassment, and victimisation.
Ms Kalam, who retired from the force 15 years ago on medical grounds, alleged that she was stripped down to her underwear during a police training course. She also claimed that while she was doing press-ups, a male officer pushed her down with his foot on the back of her neck and made a derogatory comment.
Ms Kalam was awarded £30,000 in November for sex harassment and discrimination. The judge stated that she should have been compensated for lost earnings and pension because she would have retired as a superintendent at 60.
The judge has now ordered West Midlands Police to pay her £820,720, which was the unanimous decision of the tribunal panel. The force has not disclosed how much it has spent on legal costs.
Ms Kalam was also forced to wear a compression bra to fit into body armour designed for men and was not given a handgun like her male colleagues. She talked about the impact the discrimination has had on her and stated that she feels like she has lost her career.
The tribunal also heard how she was forced to pose in a photoshoot while five months pregnant and would have made superintendent if she had not been mistreated. She was also told she would not pass a training course if she did not agree to be the firearm unit’s‘ poster girl’.
Ms Kalam initially sought £1.2million in compensation, but the panel dismissed her claim for ‘aggravated’ damages. Three firearm officers have been suspended, and ten are in a disciplinary process, West Midlands Police said.
The force has sought to improve by involving female firearm officers in testing new gender-specific uniforms and equipment. The force’s recruitment process has been reviewed ‘to increase the diversity of people who apply and remove barriers to recruitment.’
Deputy Chief Constable Scott Green said that the issues are from 2012, and since then, ‘staff in the Firearms Unit have worked hard to improve culture, standards, and the working environment.’ He added, ‘There is no place in policing for misogynistic, discriminatory or disrespectful behaviour, and much progress has been made to set and reinforce the highest standards of conduct and professionalism.’
The tribunal recognises that West Midlands Police has taken the grievance and disciplinary matters raised by Ms Kalam seriously. The steps are helping the force attract and retain the best and most diverse people in firearms policing and benefit those already working in this critical area.
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