PC Gurmeal Singh, 31, was asked to remove his religious headwear by senior officers who said he needed to wear a force regulation helmet during training exercises.
A Sikh policeman in the UK today took the Greater Manchester Police to court for alleged racism after he was asked to replace his turban by a helmet or get a "modified turban," saying it made him feel like a character in a famous TV sitcom.
PC Gurmeal Singh, 31, was asked to remove his religious headwear by senior officers who said he needed to wear a force regulation helmet during training exercises. But the constable said he was so "offended and humiliated" by the request he felt "increasingly stressed with his heart rate quickening and his breath shortening".
He claimed he was also forced into walking through fire as part of another exercise even though he feared the task might break his strict code of Sikh practise by singeing his
beard.
When officers suggested he get a modified turban, Singh said he felt like he was in a famous episode of the TV sitcom 'Only Fools and Horses' in which a character Del Boy Trotter took a delivery of 200 crash turbans - helmets with cloth wrapped around it.
In the show, millions laughed as Del Boy - played by Sir David Jason - claimed the crash turbans were the essential accessory for fashion-conscious, motorbike-riding Sikhs throughout Peckham.
Singh took Greater Manchester Police to the employment tribunal today claiming racial discrimination in a case which could land him more than 200,000 pounds, courtesy taxpayer, if he wins.
Singh who works as Wythenshawe Police station, near Manchester, told the court how he had been a practising Sikh all his life and at the age of 15 took the decision to be baptised into the faith which required him to wear the turban. He joined the force in 2003 as a Police community Support officer at Northermden police station but problems began when he was asked to go on bike patrols.
GMP deny racial discrimination. The British Sikh Police Association are backing Singh in his legal action but the Police Federation have declined to support him.
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