Britain’s most senior police officer was forced to defend his record on race yesterday, telling a tribunal that it would have been an “extraordinary aberration” if he had tried to block the promotion of an ethnic minority colleague.

Sir Ian Blair has been accused by Commander Shabir Hussain of grooming a “golden circle” of white officers for promotion ahead of black and Asian officers.

Mr Hussain has told the tribunal in Stratford, East London, that he was passed over for promotion by the Metropolitan Police Commissioner because “my face did not fit and did not fit because I am not white”.

But Sir Ian completely rejected the premise of a “golden circle” of officers.

“I have said there is no favourite few,” he said. “I absolutely refute the suggestion that any racial motivation, any bias, conscious or unconscious, could possibly influence me in decisions I have taken and the discussions around senior posts I have had.

“Everything in my professional life as a police officer points in the completely opposite direction.”

He said that he had championed diversity throughout his career and mentored a senior black figure in the public service outside the police force.

“It is inconceivable that I would seek to block the promotion of a senior minority ethnic officer and any suggestion to that effect would be seen as an extraordinary aberration.”

The hearing was told that when Mr Hussain applied for promotion in 2006 he was up against six other candidates, of whom five received better marks from Sir Ian and one the same. Mr Hussain was given a 3+, a high grade, while the others got 4s and a 5 — an exceptional grade.

After Mr Hussain found out that he had not been promoted to deputy assistant commissioner he went to see Sir Ian. The commissioner said: “I do not recall in detail the feedback which I gave him but I do believe that it would have been to the effect that he had performed credibly and to an acceptable standard but had been beaten on the day by other candidates.”

He said that this was broadly the same feedback he had given another commander who was “also very disappointed”.

The commissioner said that he could not imagine wishing to damage the prospects of any minority candidate. “On the contrary, I have made clear my wish to increase the representation of ethnic minorities and other under-represented groups in all management and leadership positions”. He added: “It is inconceivable with any police authority but particularly with this police authority that any senior officer could persuade members not to make an appointment on the grounds of race.”

Sir Ian told the tribunal that he did not consider it a failure if someone had reached the rank of commander, an “enormously senior rank”. He said that there were about twenty-five commanders and only nine or ten deputy assistant commissioner roles. Mr Hussain had gone for promotion and had failed. “That is, I am afraid, the nature of promotion competition.”

Mr Hussain is suing the Metropolitan Police, the Metropolitan Police Authority and its chairman, Len Duvall, for race discrimination and unlawful deduction of wages.

The hearing continues.

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