A Metropolitan Police officer “tortured” by police sirens has won a hearing discrimination claim

An employment tribunal heard Shafi Karim was sacked from the London force because his poor hearing led to fears that he was unsafe on the job. The tribunal was told the trainee officer struggled to hear instructions over his police radio and experienced feedback through his hearing aids.

In one "blue light" exercise Mr Karim complained that patrol car sirens were like "torture." In a simulated police chase, he had to stop to change the batteries in the device. The panel was told he was made to complete a series of role play-tests, and that senior officers became concerned that his poor hearing could endanger himself and other officers. 

He remained on probation for five years, before being dismissed in 2021.

Mr Karim sued the force over his dismissal, and for making him pay costs related to his hearing aids, and is now in line for compensation.

The tribunal concluded that Mr Karim had been subjected to disability discrimination arising from his dismissal and that the force had failed to make reasonable adjustments by not paying for his advanced hearing aid kit and insurance. A claim of direct discrimination was dismissed.

"The Met should never have required Mr Karim to pay this cost of the advanced hearing aid kit", employment Judge Jillian Brown said.

PM Law 

Sheffield Solicitors