Calling someone a 'numpty' is not a discrimination, has announced an employment judge.
The legal decision came in a case Where a metropolitan police sergeant has submitted more than 250 claims against his former employer – including a chief inspector who used the word – and lost them all.
Sonny Kalar, who was with Police for 30 years, Said he was offended when chief inspector Marlise Davies called him a 'numpty' twice and complained for discrimination.
Judge Richard Nicolle of Employment, sitting on the London Central Employment Tribunal, said that Ci Davies used it in a 'airy way' and that it does not amount to discrimination.
Mr Kalar joined the with the in June 1993 and retired in June 2023.
During the employment tribunal he brought a series of claims, including racing discrimination and intimidation, discrimination against disabilities and intimidation, victimization and clocks.
He made wide allegations against senior officers within the with and claimed that there was a 'collective witch hunt' against him.
In total he made no fewer than 271 individual allegations. They were all fired.
Sonny Kalar said he was offended when chief inspector Marlise Davies called him twice a 'numpty'
One of his allegations was that Ci Davies, chief inspector in the SO15 Borders counter terrorism command, against him discriminated against him by calling him Numpty.
The tribunal heard that Ci Davies had called Mr Kalar, a sergeant, while he had recovered from a knee operation on sick leave and used the expression “Living the Dream” during the conversation.
'[Mr Kalar] Referred to a telephone conversation of approximately one hour on July 15, 2022, “heard the tribunal.
“He found that he took the exception to her remark” Living the Dream “that he says he was focused on him and that it was not a dream, but a nightmare because of the suffering with his disability and health problems.
Ci Davies says that the comment was not made with regard to [Mr Kalar] But because of the condition of the building at [St Pancras International]With water that runs over the walls.
'[Mr Kalar] Then she referred twice to her after he had called him “Numpty”.
'Ci Davies accepts the use of the term, not once twice, but said it was used as an affectionate term as in not as stupid instead of in a contemptuous way.
'Nevertheless, she apologized [Mr Kalar]. '
Judge Nicolle said: 'We accept proof of Ci Davies that the comment was made during her call with [Mr Kalar] On July 15, 2022 in a light -hearted way.
'We reject his claim that it had something to do with his [whistle-blowing].
'We do not believe that the term' numpty 'has racial or disabled connotations and in the context that it was used, in what we considered a light -hearted way, not someone who was able to form intimidation when it was viewed objectively.
'We acknowledge [Mr Kalar] May have been subjectively observed to be aimed at him and to be contemptuous, but consider in mind that it is related to his increased sensitivity instead of how the comments would be viewed objectively.
'We take into account the fact that Ci Davies uses in its language … informal, demonstrably self -explanatory and humorous language.
The former police sergeant made accusations against senior officers and claimed that there was a 'collective witch hunt' against him
“We do not consider in view of the context in which these comments were made, that they were intended or could reasonably be explained as intimidation.”
Mr Kalar also claimed that he was discriminated against about different messages, including one transfer to Heathrow Terminal 2 that he said was a 'criminal post'.
He claimed that he became 'spied' and also claimed that a colleague was a 'deep racist officer'.
The Tribunal Report said: 'He says he was continuously discriminated against from the moment he was removed [Ports Duty Supervisor] In 2017.
“He claims that there have been a series of direct and continuous actions as part of a long campaign … he refers to a collective witch hunt.
'[Mr Kalar]… referred to an umbrella culture of institutional racism, female hatred and disablism. '
Judge Nicolle said that Mr Kalar's case was a “spreading gun approach” because he “labeled almost every claim and intimidating intimidation due to both race and disability.”
Judge Nicolle said that “many of his allegations are inherently inconsistent” and said from 2020 that there was “increasing evidence that he focused on creating potential evidence for a likely legal claim”
