A former West Midlands Police inspector has secured a six-figure settlement from the force after pursuing discrimination claims through an employment tribunal.
The Settlement and Claims
Khizra Bano, who served for more than twenty years with the police force, reached the agreement with West Midlands Police without any admission of liability from the organisation. The Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, revealed the settlement described as a "considerable" six-figure amount.
The Federation stated the payout "reflects the profound harm experienced by an officer who dedicated more than two decades of her life to the service". Ms Bano had most recently pursued claims for victimisation and disability discrimination against the force.
Case Background and Previous Claims
West Midlands Police confirmed that the former officer had earlier claims for sexual and racial discrimination dismissed by a tribunal panel and subsequently withdrawn. The force emphasised it would "resolutely defend any unfair allegations of discrimination made against it".
According to previous BBC reporting, Ms Bano - referred to as Khizra Dhindsa by West Midlands Police - had clashed with Chief Constable Craig Guildford when she attended a meeting supporting a colleague in May 2023. Following this incident, she was reportedly referred to the professional standards department for an independent investigation before eventually retiring from the force.
Police Federation's Strong Response
The Police Federation welcomed the settlement while issuing a stark warning about police culture. "Settlements like these might close a case, but they don't close the issue", the organisation stated.
They emphasised that forces cannot treat such payouts as "the price of doing business" and must confront what these cases reveal about their culture, leadership, and duty of care. The Federation noted there is "too much evidence across the service" that forces are not consistently meeting their duty of care obligations.
Mukund Krishna, CEO of the Police Federation, thanked Khizra for her service and stated that "Khizra's story must not be treated as isolated or as a closed chapter". He described it as a "catalyst for change" for a culture that prioritises people over process and values honesty over defensiveness.
West Midlands Police's Position
In their statement to BirminghamLive, West Midlands Police acknowledged making "significant progress over the last few years in addressing improper behaviour". The force said officers now feel more confident and better supported when making internal reports, and they are disciplining and dismissing officers who breach professional standards.
The force expressed regret that Ms Dhindsa (Bano) is no longer serving, thanking her for her service and wishing her well for the future. They maintained that her most recent claims against them have now been withdrawn.
The Federation has committed to using the collective voice of its 145,000 members to ensure the recently-announced Police Leadership Commission addresses the broader culture and leadership issues highlighted by this case.
