Ali Dizaei

Ali Dizaei

Jamshid Ali Dizaei (Persian: جمشید علی دیزایی‎, Jamshīd ʿAlī Dizaī; ) (born 1962) is a former Commander in London's Metropolitan Police Service, Iranian-born with dual nationality, and formerly one of Britain's more senior Muslim police officers, Dizaei came to prominence as a result of his outspoken views on racial discrimination in the London Metropolitan Police and various allegations of malpractice on his part. He was jailed for perverting the course of justice in February 2010. Although he was later released on appeal he was eventually re-convicted and re-sentenced on 13 February 2012.

He had received advancement after his criticism of the force following his claims of racism. He was a frequent media commentator on a variety of issues, mainly concerned with ethnicity and religion.

In April 2008, he was promoted to Commander, responsible for West London. In August 2008, he was presented with the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal by the Commissioner, Sir Ian Blair.

On 8 February 2010, he was convicted in the Crown Court before Mr Justice Simon on charges of perverting the course of justice and of misconduct in a public office, and was jailed for four years. He had been suspended on full pay since September 2008 and on 31 March 2010 was formally dismissed from the Metropolitan Police.

Dizaei was initially imprisoned at HMP Edmunds Hill, Suffolk. He was seriously assaulted by other inmates and moved to HMP Usk. He said he was also subject of an attack by another inmate in Prescoed Prison. He claimed inmates wrote threatening remarks on his family photographs and placed excrement on his belongings.

On 16 May 2011, Dizaei's appeal against this conviction was successful and the conviction was quashed.

In the Court of Appeal Lord Justice Hughes said that the court "simply not know whether this conviction is soundly based or not". He continued, "In those circumstances we are driven to the conclusion that it cannot be regarded as safe." Dizaei's claim after his release was that he "left prison with his integrity completely intact". He described his experience in prison as 'hell', and likened it to 'putting your hand in a wasps' nest'. He publicly thanked his wife for exposing the false identity of Waad Al Baghdadi and his benefit fraud.

In September 2011 Dizaei was successful in an appeal against his dismissal from the Metropolitan Police, since his conviction had been quashed by the Court of Appeal. However he did not return to duty, but remained suspended pending his forthcoming retrial in the Crown Court on charges of misconduct in public office and perverting the course of justice.

On a retrial in the Crown Court at Southwark before Mr Justice Saunders, concluding on 13 February 2012, Dizaei was again found guilty of perverting the course of justice and of misconduct in a public office. He was sentenced to three years imprisonment. On 15 May 2012 he was dismissed from the Metropolitan Police.