A POLICEMAN in Norfolk, PC Graham Cogman, is going to an employment tribunal over his claim that he has faced discrimination at work during the past two years because of his Christian beliefs.
Mr Cogman, who is 49, and a father of two, has served with the Norfolk police for 15 years. A practising Baptist who occasionally attends the parish church in the village of Sea Palling in North Norfolk, where he lives, PC Cogman says that he first experienced problems when he placed the phone number of a Christian helpline on the force’s intranet site. After doing this, he says, he was labelled homophobic, an accusation that he strenuously denies.
For two years running, he objected to calls from gay liaison officers for all members of the force to wear a pink ribbon and a rainbow badge to promote Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender History Month. In response, he sent an email to colleagues setting out his view of homosexuality as sinful in God’s eyes.
This led to disciplinary action and a fine of £1200 after he was found to have breached the police code of practice. He had pleaded guilty after lawyers advised him that this would be the only way to keep his job.
Mr Cogman says that he was again interviewed in April this year for adding a Christian text to his computer screensaver. It was this incident that led him to seek legal advice, he says.
“It just got to the point where enough is enough. Most of what I’ve done has been to try and help people: nothing has been vindictive, but to help people in need. It’s been a culmination of small, niggly things, which have built up and have led me to taking this legal action. For the screensaver I put on the words ‘Jesus the light of the world, only the enemy kills, steals, and destroys’.
“Lots of other officers have personalised theirs, with quotations from philosophers and footballers; but someone saw it and said it was homophobic.”
PC Cogman believes that the “over-the-top” promotion of gay rights in Norfolk Police have
made his position extremely difficult, unless he acts against his conscience.
He is still a serving police officer for the force and has twice been commended for his loyalty and diligence in the line of duty.
PC Cogman will be represented by the barrister Paul Diamond, who acted for the British Airways employee Nadia Eweida when she was suspended for wearing a cross to work.
A spokesman for the Norfolk Constabulary said that it welcomed people of all beliefs and races, and fully respected everyone’s views, but would not tolerate any form of homophobic behaviour. “While we fully respect the officer has strong beliefs, it is only correct that he respects the beliefs and wishes of others.”
A date for the hearing has yet to be set. |
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