Today an employment tribunal brought by former West Midlands Police firearms officer, Rebecca Kalam, has concluded.
The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, Simon Foster, said:
“I have been committed to constant and unremitting action to hold the Chief Constable and West Midlands Police to account, to ensure that action has been taken to eliminate any and all misogyny, racism, homophobia and unlawful discrimination from within the Firearms Operations Unit and West Midlands Police more widely.
“That has included, my providing oversight and scrutiny of the action taken and the change that has been implemented by West Midlands Police over the past two years, to address the issues in the Firearms Operations Unit, most recently at my Strategic Policing and Crime Board in November 2023. There has also been a change of leadership within the Firearms Operations Unit.
“Rebecca Kalam has shown courage and resilience throughout her tribunal claim. Her claim highlighted a toxic culture of misogyny and unlawful discrimination that had inexplicably and inexcusably proliferated within the Firearms Operations Unit.
“All police officers have a duty to comply with the highest standards of conduct, ethics, integrity and professionalism. That is non-negotiable. If there are any police officers, that are incapable of grasping, understanding and implementing this basic principle, then they have no place in the police service.”
Back to News Archive