Senior female armed police officer wins £30,000 payout after being made to ... trends now
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A senior female firearms officer has won £30,000 in a sex discrimination and harassment case after being stripped down to her underwear during a police training course.
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, an employment tribunal heard.
She was also lined up to be the 'poster girl' for the West Midlands Police firearms unit she worked at and told she would not pass the training course 'if she did not agree to it'.
DI Kalam - who was one of only seven women in a unit with 250 men - complained about a 'toxic and discriminatory' culture in her unit.
The 40-year-old said she had been left feeling 'extremely uncomfortable' by her male colleagues who also drew male genitalia on notice boards around the station.
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
DI Kalam - who has been medically retired as a result of the ordeal - successfully sued West Midlands Police at an employment tribunal.
The officer, whose husband is a Detective Sergeant with the force, was originally seeking £1.2 million in compensation.
But the panel dismissed her claim for 'aggravated' damages and instead awarded her £30,000 after finding the force liable for her claims of sex discrimination and harassment.
The Birmingham tribunal found DI Kalam would have made the rank of Superintendent if it were not for the mistreatment.
In March 2012 she was required to act as a 'stooge' in a mock training exercise, had her clothes cut off and was 'stripped down to her underwear' so first aid could be given.
