A depressed officer wins £22,000 for injury to his feelings

After his boss asked if he was "mentally resilient enough" to use a gun to kill somebody, a firearms officer has won £22,000 in a disability claim.

Thomas Williams was part of a Ministry of Defence team charged with protecting the base of the SAS Hereford Garrison. An employment tribunal heard that he developed depression and was off sick for 20 months, the hearing was told that during this time his managers asked when they could expect him back and advised a career change to something he could "actually perform".

The tribunal, held in Cardiff, heard Mr Williams started working as an armed firearms officer in the MoD Police in February 2015. In May 2017 his mental health declined and he went off work, diagnosed with depression. In a final meeting, in which he was eventually dismissed, he was questioned about his readiness to use "lethal force" and his deputy chief constable asked when they could get Mr Williams "back on the guns". Consequently, Mr Williams sued the MoD for discrimination.

The panel ruled bosses had created an "intimidating and humiliating environment".

"Detective Chief Constable Terry's comments about use of lethal force were unwanted related to disability and created an intimidating and humiliating environment for Mr Williams," employment Judge Rachel Harfield said.

She also ruled the "shortcutting" of the assessment process was "linked to Mr Williams' history of depression" and would "not have happened" to an officer in a comparable case with a physical disability.

Mr Williams has been awarded £22,000 for injury to feelings, and further compensation for loss of earnings to be awarded at a later date.

Broadgate Legal

London Solicitors

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