Sikh officer gets damages after order to remove turban

A Sikh policeman was awarded £10,000 in compensation by a tribunal yesterday after bosses ordered him to remove his turban for riot training.

Police Constable Gurmeal Singh took action against Greater Manchester Police after the incident last year, although he is still employed by the force.

After being told to take the turban off in a group email, PC Singh had a meeting with his sergeant two months later when he was asked: "Can you not take that thing off?... This is what you signed up for."

Awarding compensation to PC Singh after a hearing in Manchester, Judge Murray Creed said: "The Greater Manchester Police should amend its police uniform and equipment policy to take into account the racial and religious requirement of Sikh officers."