Detective Constable Rebecca Tiffin felt she was being ‘over-scrutinised’ by Surrey Police
An overweight policewoman known as ‘Blue Moon’ because she was in work so rarely who quit after failing fitness ‘bleep tests’ lost her discrimination case today.
Detective Constable Rebecca Tiffin said she felt she was being ‘over-scrutinised’ by Surrey Police, and was suing them for disability and sex discrimination after failing to complete the mandatory test.
She said that she had an under-active thyroid gland which caused her to gain weight and she was also suffering from stress, anxiety and depression.
The 39-year-old from Tolworth, Surrey, had been nicknamed ‘Blue Moon’ by her colleagues due to frequent periods of absence due to health problems.
She attempted to move her tests on a number of occasions due to a sinus infection or child care issues.
But the tribunal court in Reading, Berkshire, found she was not suffering a disadvantage in the test because of her gender but because of her lack of fitness.
Ms Tiffin’s superior had allowed her access to the gym facilities at Staines Police Station in Surrey (above) and had encouraged her to use them in her lunch breaks, the tribunal was told
The court also heard that her superior, Detective Inspector Rebecca Molyneux, had allowed Ms Tiffin access to the gym facilities at Staines Police Station.
She had also encouraged her to use them in her lunch breaks, invited her to join a staff running club, and even underwent the bleep test with her as support.
Ms Tiffin was subject to the same performance procedures as any other officer in the force, the tribunal judge ruled
In relation to the claims alleging disability discrimination, employment tribunal judge Stephen Vowles concluded in a written judgement that Ms Tiffin had been subject to the same performance procedures as any other officer in the force.
He ruled that Ms Tiffin had not been subject to discrimination or harassment in relation to her disability or sex, that she was not victimised by the force and that the force did not fail to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate her needs.
Addressing claims that she was pushed out of the force by her superiors, he said: ‘During the course of the proceedings and before the start of the hearing, the respondent conceded that the claimant was a disabled person by reason of depression and hypothyroidism.’
However, he added: ‘The requirement to pass the Annual Fitness Assessment applied to all operational officers within Surrey Police and eventually nationally and was a necessary requirement for safety and operational reasons.
‘The claimant was not ‘forced’ to resign. That was her choice and done at least in part because she had secured alternative employment which suited her.’