FAIR EMPLOYMENT TRIBUNAL

CASE REF NO:	402/02FET

APPLICANT:	Philip Crawford

RESPONDENT:	Chief Constable of Police Service for Northern Ireland

DECISION ON A PRELIMINARY HEARING
The unanimous decision of the Tribunal is that the act complained of is a continuing act and so the applicant’s complaint is brought within the time limits.

APPEARANCES:

APPLICANT:	The applicant appeared in person.

RESPONDENT:	Mrs Chamberlain of Crown Solicitor’s Office.

1.	The applicant is a serving police officer and he complained about the provision and wearing of the new uniform in April 2002.  In particular his complaint relates to the green jumper that was provided for him to wear.  It has gold writing of the word ‘police’ on the jumper and he found that this was offensive to him and in his evidence to a number of other police officers.

2.	He took steps on 9 April 2002 by writing to superior officers and we have seen in a bundle of documentation that he took this matter through the Police Federation and the Quality Unit within the police force before going to the Equality Commission and presenting an application on 19 September 2002.  We consider that in this case the imposition of a new uniform which the applicant found to be offensive to him could be viewed as a policy decision which was made by the respondent and which continued in force until and after the receipt of his originating application to the Tribunal.  As such it can be viewed as a continuing policy and the applicant’s claim to the Tribunal can be regarded as being within the statutory time limits.

____________________________________
M P PRICE
Vice President

Date and place of hearing:	4 April 2003, Belfast

Date decision recorded in register and issued to parties: