Senior police officer called Somali cleaner 'n*****' and threatened to smash him against wall, hearing told

Scotland Yard says murder detective has 'significant amount of experience and expertise with hate crime and diversity'

The incident happened at St Pancras International railway station (Getty)

A senior police officer allegedly called a cleaner a “n*****” and threatened to smash him against a wall after finding toilets at a London railway station closed.

A misconduct hearing was told that murder Detective Chief Inspector Glen Lloyd, who works in the Metropolitan Police’s homicide and major crime command, was off duty at the time and has “a significant amount of experience and expertise with hate crime and diversity”.

He is accused of threatening and abusing Abdi Yare after using a toilet in St Pancras International railway station when it was shut for cleaning at around 1am on 11 May 2017.

Mr Yare, who is from Somalia, claimed that Lloyd told him: “N***** f****** get out of the way let me do my urine or I will urine on the floor. F*** your mother and your dad."

Appearing at a misconduct hearing in west London on Monday, the 38-year-old said DCI Lloyd made him fear from his safety.

Mr Yare, who declined to use an interpreter and spoke in his second language English, added: "He tried to abuse me, told me the word n*****, that's what he said.

"He said I will smash you on the wall. I was panicking at the time. I was scared for my life. He was a very aggressive man. He was very close to me."

Heather Oliver, representing DCI Lloyd, said: "You felt there was a threat to your life?" Mr Yare replied: "Yes of course."

He added that he thought the officer had spoken with an American accent.

The men's toilets at the station are closed for cleaning between 1am and 5am, with a barrier and blue sign erected to say they are shut, the hearing was told.

Ms Oliver suggested no racist or abusive language was used and that Mr Yare was in fact annoyed at DCI Lloyd using the urinals when they were closed for cleaning.

"Did you develop an allegation of racist abuse to divert attention away from your own aggressive behaviour?" she asked Mr Yare, who said he did not.

James Berry, for Scotland Yard’s legal services, told the panel that DCI Lloyd was of “good previous character”, adding: "He has a significant amount of experience and expertise with hate crime and diversity."

If the alleged incident took place it would be an "aberration" in his conduct, Mr Berry said.

He told the hearing that there was no direct evidence of what was said, adding: "In essence the panel are going to have to decide between Mr Lloyd's account and Mr Yare's account."

Mr Yare said he had not pursued a criminal complaint because "someone can go behind bars" but proceeded with the misconduct hearing so "next time he shall not behave like that".

DCI Lloyd has been placed on restricted duties by Scotland Yard.

If proven, the allegations would violate professional standards of authority, respect and courtesy, equality and diversity, discreditable conduct and could result in dismissal.

The hearing is expected to last five days.

Additional reporting by PA