Indian-origin Assistant Commissioner of Police Tarique Ghaffur, one of Britain's senior officers, has launched legal action against the Scotland Yard on the grounds that he was 'harassed, degraded and humiliated' because he is Asian and a Muslim.

Ghaffur officially lodged the discrimination claim against the Metropolitan Police and Commissioner Sir Ian Blair.

The action was leaked in June and legal papers claim that Ghaffur has been further 'victimised' by threats that he would be sacked unless he suspended the employment tribunal proceedings. Met Police has 28 days to respond formally.

A dossier compiled by Ghaffur in the past three years alleges that the level of racial discrimination in Scotland Yard has worsened and that senior ethnic minority officers face a 'hostile atmosphere'. The combined effect has been to create a 'degrading and humiliating' environment for him.

Ghaffur is reportedly upset with the Scotland Yard's failure to renew his contract beyond March 2009, which he claims is discriminating against his age, because he is over 50.

The final allegation is that his 180,000 pounds a year role as head of Central Operations at Scotland Yard has been compromised and that he was silenced over the 42-day detention debate.