Milton Keynes Superintendent Emma Baillie Linked to TVP White Officers' Discrimination Case

Milton Keynes Superintendent Emma Baillie has been linked to a high-profile discrimination case in which three white officers successfully sued Thames Valley Police (TVP) after being denied promotion due to diversity-driven policies.

The Employment Tribunal ruled in favour of Detective Inspector Phillip Turner-Robson, Inspector Graham Horton, and Custody Inspector Kirsteen Bishop, who claimed they were unfairly passed over for promotion in 2017. The officers argued that less qualified candidates from ethnic minority backgrounds were promoted over them as part of TVP's efforts to improve diversity within the force.

Superintendent Emma Baillie, who was responsible for overseeing the promotion process, was named in the tribunal as having played a significant role in the decision-making. The tribunal found that her actions, influenced by the force’s diversity policy, led to unlawful discrimination against the three officers on the grounds of race.

During the tribunal, Detective Inspector Wills stated, "I felt I was being discriminated against because of the colour of my skin." He added that the policy, while well-intentioned, had resulted in unfair treatment of officers like himself who were more qualified but overlooked due to their race.

Superintendent Baillie was described as being under pressure to meet diversity targets, which led to decisions that the tribunal concluded were "motivated by a conscious or subconscious bias" in favour of ethnic minority candidates. The tribunal's judgment highlighted that "the approach taken was not a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim."

Thames Valley Police had implemented the policy in an attempt to better reflect the diverse communities it serves. However, the tribunal concluded that the force's approach had gone too far, resulting in reverse discrimination against the white officers. The ruling has raised concerns about the complexities of balancing diversity initiatives with fairness in recruitment and promotion processes.

In response to the ruling, Thames Valley Police stated, "We accept the tribunal's findings and will take on board the lessons learned from this case." They also mentioned that they are reviewing the outcome and considering their next steps.

This case serves as a significant reminder of the challenges organisations face in striving to promote diversity while ensuring that all individuals are treated equally and fairly.

Superintendent Emma Baillie stepped into the role of Commander for Milton Keynes in April 2023. She has a wealth of experience, having worked in roles spanning response policing, intelligence development, and commanding large incidents and operations, including the force response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Emma previously served as the lead for Thames Valley Police in the national Uplift programme, helping to recruit over 600 additional officers. She also held responsibility for the allocation of officers and staff across the force area and their training. Before this, Emma was Head of the Armed Response department spanning the Thames Valley and Hampshire areas.