Mr S Kalar v The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis — 2025

The claimant, a police officer employed from 1993 until retirement in June 2023, brought numerous allegations arising from events including moves between posts, management of health issues and working arrangements during the pandemic, alleged denial of development opportunities, occupational health referrals, a grievance process, and comments by managers. The tribunal found that his mental health amounted to a disability from 20 December 2018, bronchitis from 17 September 2020, and his knee injury from 20 September 2021. It accepted that several communications were protected acts and that two communications in December 2020 and January 2021 were protected disclosures.

The tribunal dismissed the substantive Equality Act and whistleblowing detriment claims. It found, across the pleaded allegations, that the burden of proof did not shift for direct discrimination, that the alleged conduct was not shown to be because of race, disability, protected acts, or protected disclosures, and that many matters relied on were ordinary management actions. Where disability-related circumstances were engaged, the tribunal found either no unfavourable treatment or that the respondent had proportionate and legitimate reasons, including managing duties, operational staffing, occupational health advice, and deployment of officers.

The tribunal rejected the claimant's case that there was a continuing discriminatory campaign stemming from his earlier removal from the PDS role. It found that the claimant subjectively perceived many interactions as discriminatory, harassing or victimising, but that the allegations did not meet the relevant legal tests when assessed objectively. It criticised delay and aspects of the grievance process, including advice not to contact ACAS while the grievance was ongoing, but did not find those matters were because of protected acts, protected disclosures, race or disability. The claims were therefore dismissed, with the withdrawn sex discrimination allegations and one withdrawn victimisation-related allegation also dismissed on withdrawal.