The Home Office are answering to two counts of alleged race discrimination at Croydon Employment Tribunal.

Mr Ahmed and Mr Khan, work for the Immigration and Nationality Directorate based in London Bridge. The workers, who are supported by their union, the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) claim that the discrimination took a number of forms.

The tribunal, which is expected to last for 10 days, will hear that the officers had to work in an environment where racially offensive language such as ‘savages’ and ‘spear chuckers’ is claimed to have been used on a regular basis in their presence when referring to black and Asian people.

The claimants will also tell the tribunal of instances where complaints have not been investigated thoroughly and opportunities have been lost because of racism.

Jeremy Gautrey PCS National Officer said: “It is deeply disturbing that a government department which professes to be at the forefront of tackling racism is itself the subject of such severe allegations. As a union we will not tolerate racism in any form, be it in society or the workplace. We will continue to work to stamp out racism by supporting and fighting for those who suffer discrimination in any form.”

A spokesperson for the Commission for Racial Equality declined to comment on the case but told HRZone:

“The CRE provides guidance to employers including a statutory code of practice – available on our website.”