A FIREARMS officer last night claimed the former Assistant Chief Constable of Cleveland Police discriminated against him because he was Asian.

Nadeem Saddique, who has taken the force to an employment tribunal claiming race discrimination, said his status as a VIP protection officer was removed after a sickness absence and that he was never given the opportunity to get it back.

Cleveland Police denies the claims.

Before his absence with stress in 2011, PC Saddique, from Ingleby Barwick, had protected Tony Blair and the Royal family on visits to the region.

But on his return to work he claims he was denied the opportunity to take part in a firing range shoot which would help him get his VIP status back.

In his witness statement, Mr Saddique said: “I consider that the decision was taken simply because I am Asian and they did not want an Asian police officer to be a VIP officer.”

He told the tribunal that another officer had told him that Assistant Chief Constable Sean White had “moved the goalposts” with regards to the shoot.

But Richard Oulton, representing Cleveland Police at the hearing, said PC Saddique had just "surmised" that ACC White was involved in the decision.

PC Saddique also claimed he was encouraged to join the motorcycle unit – and was told he could keep his firearms officer status.

However, he said he was later told he could not be a firearms officer at the same time.

He said: “Cleveland Police eventually decided not to post me to the motorcycle section and the post was re-advertised. The position was offered to another officer... a white British officer.”

He said this officer was allowed to take up a role within the motorcycle section and keep his status as a firearms officer, something denied to him.

Cleveland Police said that the white officer had only retained his firearms status for a while to help cover the London Olympics.

PC Saddique also claims that his superiors wanted him out of the firearms unit and he said they had been heard to refer to him as a “P**i” and a “black c***”.

His employer denies the comments were made.

The highly-trained officer, who joined the force in 1991, also claims a firearms colleague was found to be displaying an English Defence League sticker on his holster while he was on duty.

But the tribunal, at Teesside Magistrates Court, heard evidence from Cleveland Police that the sticker did not have any racist writing on it.

The hearing, expected to last at least ten days, continues.