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£40k compensation for racial abuse victim
A Yemeni working as a street warden in the West End has won a major compensation payout after suffering four years of racist abuse.
Iqbal Rasheed, 59, was found to be the subject of racial and religious discrimination by his superiors at Chubb Security.
The security giant – responsible for Westminster’s CCTV control centre – was ordered to pay £42,500 at the employment tribunal hearing in Kingsway after its former employee’s claims that “racism was rife” were upheld.
Mr Rasheed, who lives in St John’s Wood, told how colleagues nicknamed him “Saddam” and mocked him for fasting during Ramadan.
The court heard how when the hostage Ken Bigley was decapitated Mr Rasheed was told: “I hope they nuke all you Iraqis now.”
Mr Rasheed said: “Racism is rife in the entire company. From the moment I stepped in the office I could feel the tension against me. I was made to feel like an outsider.”
The father-of-three is fluent in five languages and has lived in this country for a decade.
He resigned in November 2004 after the four-year ordeal because of the abuse.
Chubb Security has been ordered to pay £10,000 in court costs. The court heard no staff have been sacked.
Its spokeswoman Jackie Gregory said the company had taken steps to sort out the problem.
She said: “We recognise we had a problem, regret that it occurred and have taken steps to address it.
“All staff are now provided with diversity training with an emphasis on dignity and respect to all colleagues. We have implemented a local management regime, and appointed business practice officers with a dedicated helpline for employees to call.”
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