This resource is from the News section. This page contains press release 33/00, which announces that the MPA's Co-ordination and Urgency committee have agreed the costs of the Gurpal Virdi Inquiry for the next two years.

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• Virdi Inquiry costs agreed
  • Notes to editors

Virdi Inquiry costs agreed

33/00
23 November 2000

The Metropolitan Police Authority’s Co-ordination and Urgency committee today agreed the costs of the Gurpal Virdi Inquiry for the next two financial years, set at a total of £157,275.

The CCU received a report on the financial status of the Virdi Inquiry at its meeting on 9 November but today considered the detailed estimate of the cost and the budget provision for the financial years 2000/2001 and 2001/2002.

The total costs are made up of staffing, which includes the Inquiry Panel Chair, MPA member R David Muir, Panel members and advisers. They also cover legal advice, stationery and printing costs.

Following the meeting, MPA Chair Toby Harris said:

"The Gurpal Virdi case raises major issues which need to be addressed urgently. It is right that we have set up an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the case, chaired by a member of the MPA so that the community is certain that all aspects of the case are properly and fully taken into account.

"There is a cost implication to an investigation of this nature, which we have attempted to keep to a minimum. Aware as we all are of the scarcity of resources and finances.

"But the people of London, especially those from the ethnic minorities, need to be certain that cases such as this one are treated with the utmost fairness and openness. If they are not, this merely breeds resentment and mistrust between the police and the community as a whole, something we need to avoid."

Mr Virdi was dismissed by the Metropolitan Police Service earlier this year after a police disciplinary tribunal unanimously found him guilty of having distributed racist literature to other ethnic minority colleagues in the MPS. Mr Virdi subsequently went to the Employment Tribunal alleging racial discrimination, including the way in which the investigation was conducted. On 23 August the Tribunal found that the Metropolitan Police Service had discriminated against him.

Notes to editors

The Metropolitan Police Authority took over responsibility for the Metropolitan Police Service from the Home Secretary on 3 July.

Further media information

For further information, please contact the MPA press office.