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UK race rights campaigner fined for row with police

Shyam Bhatia in London

Britain's leading race issues campaigner has been given a £115,000 payoff after stepping down from his post following a drunken confrontation with police outside the Lord's cricket ground.

Gurbux Singh, 51, chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality, was fined £500 and had to pay £55 costs at the Bow Street magistrate's court in London on Wednesday after admitting to threatening police officers after India's thrilling victory over England in the NatWest Tri-Series final on July 13.

After the hearing, Singh said he deeply regretted the incident and had decided to step down from his post "in order that a line can be drawn under recent events".

He added, "I also believe this to be in the best interests of both the CRE and race relations in general."

Before the hearing there was speculation that Singh might receive a custodial sentence. He had held his prestigious £120,000 per annum job at the CRE for two years after being personally chosen for the position by former home secretary Jack Straw.

His confrontation with police came as he left a private VIP box at Lord's after India beat England in a one-day international.

At Bow Street, prosecutor Deborah Walsh told the court how Singh, who was reeking of alcohol and was accompanied by his Irish wife Siobhan, walked into a police officer.

Walsh said Singh walked towards the officer with clenched fists and swore at him. He also tried to butt the officer with his head. She added: "The officer said that if two males had not been holding Mr Singh back, Mr Singh would have assaulted him."

At one point when Singh shouted he knew Ian Blair, police thought he was muddling up the name of Prime Minister Tony Blair. But in fact he was referring to the deputy head of London's metropolitan police force.

Mrs Singh was also detained, but not charged when she tried to intervene as police tried to handcuff her husband.

William Boyce QC, representing Singh, described his client as a man of honour and integrity, saying, "He is a defendant who will punish himself far more seriously than the court can or will, and will continue to punish himself."

He said Singh had drunk about seven glasses of wine that day and admitted swearing and waving his hands around, but denied clenching his fist.

District Judge Nicholas Evans, who fined Singh, commented, "This was disgraceful behaviour maintained for a relatively long period of time, quite out of character and brought about by an excess of drink."

He accepted that Singh had pleaded guilty and apologised to the police officers, noting, "When you were in a position later to reflect on your conduct, you have done the best you possibly could to make amends."

Among those who testified in court in support of Singh were British parliamentarian Peter Bottomley and India-born former CRE commissioner Baroness Flather.

Home office minister Lord Filkin also said in a statement that he was "very sorry" to see Singh go, but this was the best way to draw a line under recent events.

He said Singh had made an exceptional personal contribution to racial equality in his role in the past two years helping to modernise the commission.

Beverley Bernard, who has taken over as acting chair of the CRE, said in a statement, "The commissioners would like to thank Gurbux for the crucial role he has played in leading a programme of work that will improve the lives and opportunities of people up and down the country.

"Gurbux brought a rational voice to the very emotive subject of race relations."

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