10/01/2024
COURT AWARD £820,720 TO A FEMALE POLICE OFFICER BECAUSE OF SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION
Rebecca Kalam retired from West Midlands Police on medical grounds
A judge has ordered the force to pay her a total of £820,720 in compensation
A former fi****ms officer who was stripped down to her underwear during a police training course was today awarded more than £820,000 after winning a s*x discrimination case against her force.
Rebecca Kalam also alleged a male officer pushed her down with his foot on the back of her neck while she was doing press-ups, before telling her 'just because you have t*** does not mean you cannot do a press-up'.
The 40-year-old, who retired after 15 years in West Midlands Police on medical grounds, was awarded £30,000 by the tribunal for s*x harassment and discrimination in November.
At the time, Employment Judge Christopher Camp ruled that the former Detective Inspector should also be compensated for lost earnings and pension on the basis she would have retired as a Superintendent at 60.
At a hearing today in Birmingham to determine those figures, a judge ordered West Midlands Police to pay her a total of £820,720.
Detective Inspector Rebecca Kalam was told 'just because you have t*** does not mean you cannot do a press up', and forced to pose for a photoshoot when five months pregnant
Detective Inspector Rebecca Kalam was told 'just because you have t*** does not mean you cannot do a press up', and forced to pose for a photoshoot when five months pregnant
The decision to award Ms Kalam compensation for loss of earnings and pension was the 'unanimous decision of the tribunal panel'.
West Midlands Police also faces a substantial bill in legal costs, but has refused to disclose how much money was spent fighting the case.
Ms Kalam said: 'Instead of promptly carrying out a thorough investigation when I reported these issues, West Midlands Police engaged in a campaign of victim blaming. However, my experience has shown that truth is authentic vindication.
‘It has taken the loss of my career, health, and security to plead with WMP to not leave Women at risk, including its own female officers through lack of provision of gender specific uniform and through discriminatory practices.
‘ I have sought to highlight to the force that they must take action to address the risks and consequences left as result of ignorance or procedural failure.
‘Our officers deserve more, and the public expect nothing less.’
The tribunal heard Ms Kalam wasn't given an easy trigger hand-gun like male officers and was told to wear a compression bra to fit into body armour designed for men, and found Ms Kalam would have made the rank of superintendent if it were not for her mistreatment.
In March 2012 Ms Kalam was required to act as a 'stooge' in a mock training exercise, and was 'stripped down to her underwear' so first aid could be given.
The tribunal previously heard Ms Kalam was also forced to pose for a photoshoot when five months pregnant.
DI Kalam - who has been medically retired - successfully sued West Midlands Police at an employment tribunal and has now received more than £800,000 in compensation
DI Kalam - who has been medically retired - successfully sued West Midlands Police at an employment tribunal and has now received more than £800,000 in compensation
She was also told she would not pass a training course if she did not agree to be a 'poster girl' for the fi****ms unit, where she was one of only seven women amongst 250 men.
Judge Camp previously ruled police was guilty of s*x discrimination by not ordering body armour specifically for her and said the force had harassed her by making her the 'poster girl' and the 'stooge' in the mock training exercise.
Ms Kalam was originally seeking £1.2million in compensation, but the panel dismissed her claim for 'aggravated' damages.
The West Midlands force has now confirmed three serving fi****ms officers are currently suspended and ten are in the disciplinary process.
Following yesterday's hearing, Scott Green, the force's Deputy Chief Constable, said a raft of improvement measures have since been introduced, including involving female firearm officers in the testing new gender-specific uniform and equipment.
He said many of the issues highlighted in the case dated back to 2012 when Ms Kalam joined the fi****ms unit, adding that since then, 'staff in the Fi****ms Unit have worked hard to improve culture, standards and the working environment.'
He said: 'I am sorry that more was not done sooner to address the serious issues raised by Mrs Kalam and I apologise for the significant impact that these have had on her which has been highlighted during the tribunal.
'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.'
He said the force had also reviewed the recruitment process for fi****ms officers 'to increase the diversity of people who apply and remove barriers to recruitment.'
Dep Chf Con Green added: 'We have also changed and bolstered the leadership in our Operations and Fi****ms units.
'Alongside this we have changed how our fi****ms officers work as part of our local policing model to support our neighbourhood and response teams in serving local communities.
'The tribunal recognises that we have taken the grievance and disciplinary matters raised by Mrs Kalam seriously. The steps we have taken are helping us to attract and retain the best and most diverse people in fi****ms policing, and benefit those already working in this critical area.
'We continue to make progress to ensure that we are trusted by the public as we go about our duty to protect them.'
