Sussex Police officer wins sex discrimination pay-out

A female firearms officer who won a sex discrimination case against Sussex Police has been awarded £275,000 damages, it has been revealed.

A tribunal in 2007 heard Barbara Lynford suffered sexist behaviour after joining the all-male team at Gatwick Airport in 2002.

Mrs Lynford, who said staff left images of topless women lying around, could also receive £300,000 in compensation.

Sussex Police Authority said it would appeal against the compensation claim.

Solicitor Philip Baker said: "We have lodged an appeal against the decision of the employment tribunal case of Barbara Lynford in relation to the amount of the award.

"We are therefore not in a position to say anything further at this stage."

During the tribunal Mrs Lynford claimed her private mobile phone messages were read.

She also said her boss was openly sexist, officers refused to sit next to her, they ran over her mobile phone in a van the day her mother died and stretched their patrol breaks into hours.

More than 80% of the award is believed to cover lost income and potential earnings.

On Monday, Sussex Police director of human resources Marion Fanthorpe said: "We accept those areas that the tribunal found in favour of Pc Lynford and regret that our support for her fell short of the high personal and professional standards expected of everyone who works for Sussex Police.

"In the four years that have passed since the tribunal was first submitted, we have addressed the areas that were found against us and we are satisfied that our policies to drive mutual respect in the workplace are working well.

"They are open to public scrutiny via the force website."

She added: "There have been no other related tribunals in the four years since this incident and Gatwick continues to be a popular place to work for male and female officers alike."