It has been alleged that the operation was systematically sabotaged by officers eager to undermine Ghaffur and Blair's high-profile stance on celebrity drug taking, and thereby erode their authority. On 28 August 2008, Ghaffur held a press conference at which he accused the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir Ian Blair, of racism and discrimination, and confirmed speculation that he would take proceedings against Sir Ian and the MPS at an employment tribunal. In the following days, Ghaffur claimed, he received death threats which he claims to believe come (in part) from within the MPS. As a consequence he says he considered a leave of absence, and his lawyers hired a firm of private bodyguards to secure his safety. Although he has disclosed them in the media, Ghaffur has not reported these death threats to the police, claiming that he has lost faith in the ability and willingness of the police to protect him. On 25 November 2008, the Metropolitan Police Authority confirmed that Tarique Ghaffur had agreed an out-of-court settlement for £300,000 in his racial discrimination claim against Scotland Yard. Both parties agreed to a confidentiality clause and Ghaffur retired from the Metropolitan Police on 27 November 2008. Education Ghaffur studied at Manchester Metropolitan University and graduated BA (Hons) in Public Administration and MA in Criminology. Awards Ghaffur was awarded the Queen's Police Medal (QPM) in 2001 for Services to Policing and he was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for Services to Policing in the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours. Ghaffur was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws from Manchester Metropolitan University on 16 July 2007, and an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws from the University of Leicester on 25 January 2008. Family Ghaffur is married and has two children, one of whom, Faraaz Ghaffur. References External links Manchester Metropolitan University's Honorands Alumni of Keele University Assistant Commissioners of Police of the Metropolis Alumni of Manchester Metropolitan University Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Metropolitan Police recipients of the Queen's Police Medal British people of Punjabi descent 1958 births Living people Ugandan people of Punjabi descent Ugandan emigrants to the United Kingdom Refugees in the United Kingdom