What has Chief Constable Stephen Otter been doing in his new role as the spokesperson for the Association of Chief Police Officers on the Race and Diversity business area, since he took up the position in April 2008?
An internet search, including a search on the ‘Policing Today’ website, the official journal of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), reveals that he hasn’t been up to much and if some of his past critics are anything to go by, it is likely that he will be doing very little at all.
One high profile critic of Mr Otter’s is chief superintendent, Ali Dizaei. Dizaei was embroiled in a case about institutional racism in the Cornwall, Wales and England police force between some years ago. Interestingly for CPW, one of the men in the force who Dizaei was critical of was his previous boss, the then Superintendent Stephen Otter.
Otter gave evidence against Dizaei at court in a case that people saw was a witch hunt to remove a high ranking, politically aware ethnic minority police officer from the force. Otter gave evidence against Dizaei, on charges that The Times newspaper says were “so mundane that they beggar belief”, in a move to rid the police force of Dizaei.
After Dizaei won his case, Otter was promoted Deputy Chief Constable of Avon and Somerset and then Chief Constable of Devon and Cornwall police, while Dizaei is still waiting to be a Deputy Chief Constable.
Now Otter is in charge of the Race and Diversity portfolio for the ACPO despite his record. As it can be seen the Cornwall, Wales and England police force really do look after their own!
Not One of Us, by Ali Dizaei and Tim Phillips, is published by Serpent’s Tail on March 8 at £16.99; available from Times BooksFirst for £15.29: 0870 1608080;
Source: The Times newspaper
1 comment:
I personally know as a victim of repeated homophobic conduct, practises & attitudes of Devon & Cornwall Constabulary, that Chief Constable Steven Otter does not give a toss about diversity issues.
Repeated emails addressed DIRECTLY to the Chief Constable regarding the considerable repatative problem of homophobia within the Cornwall police force under his command have been repeatedly ignored.(contary to reccomendations by the IPCC)
Putting Mr Otter in charge of ACPO diversity issues feels to me like putting Hitler in charge of Jewish holiday homes.
Certainly NOT a Chief Constable I would trust on either race or gay issues.
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