"I was dismissed or publicly humiliated."
One of Britain’s most senior Asian police officers has accused the Police Superintendents’ Association (PSA) of harbouring a culture of misogyny, racism and cronyism.
Superintendent Harvi Khatkar, who has served in policing for more than 30 years, claimed she faced retaliation after raising internal concerns about the PSA’s culture.
She alleged: “I was excluded from meetings, information was withheld from me.
“When I started asking questions, I was dismissed or publicly humiliated.
“I heard sexist and racist comments and when I challenged them, they were brushed off as ‘banter’.”
Channel 4 News reported that Khatkar compiled a dossier of complaints and sent it to the Home Office, which part-funds the PSA. The government did not confirm whether it will investigate the allegations.
Khatkar made history in 2022 as the first woman of South Asian heritage to be elected vice president of the PSA. Her appointment was widely seen as a milestone for modern policing.
However, she now alleges that the same deep-seated issues previously identified within other policing bodies are present inside the PSA.
In 2023, after it emerged she had forwarded materials to her personal email account containing her concerns about the association, the PSA referred her to West Midlands Police for alleged data protection breaches.
A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said: “We carried out an investigation into allegations of gross misconduct but it was concluded there was no case to answer in relation to this.”
Khatkar said the experience left her reputation damaged.
In 2024, when she ran unopposed for PSA president, Khatkar claims senior figures told her she was viewed as a “reputational risk”. Despite being the only candidate, she was not elected.
The PSA instead appointed Nick Smart as acting president, even though he was under criminal investigation for assault at the time. The charge was later dropped, and a judge ruled no disciplinary action was necessary.
Nick Smart was not the only senior PSA figure to have faced serious allegations.
Current national secretary Warren Franklin was once charged in a domestic violence-related case, which was discontinued after the alleged victim withdrew.
His predecessor, Dan Murphy, was arrested for alleged assault during a police trip abroad. No charges were brought after investigators found no offence had been committed.
Khatkar said the association’s decision to overlook her, while backing men accused of more serious misconduct, exposed deep double standards.
Khatkar said: “I was told I was a reputational risk. Yet the association chose a temporary president who had been arrested and charged with a criminal offence.
“That, I would say, is a reputational risk to policing and the association.”
In response, the Police Superintendents’ Association said: “The Police Superintendents’ Association (PSA) strives for the highest standards of professionalism in everything it does, representing policing’s most senior operational officers.
“These matters are subject to ongoing tribunal proceedings, and the PSA is contesting the allegations made.
“It would be inappropriate to comment in detail at this time, and the association will respond fully and in comprehensive detail through the tribunal process.
“Allegations have been made against individuals, which have been referred to their respective forces and no misconduct has been found.
“The PSA seeks to work with transparency and fairness at all times. Decisions are made by its National Executive Committee (NEC), comprising of elected representatives from forces.
“Any member of the association can stand to run for president, and an election process is carried out to appoint an individual, with voting carried out by members of the PSA’s NEC.
“The presidential election process held in January 2024 was fair, transparent, and overseen by two independent scrutineers.”
Harvi Khatkar insists her case reflects a broader problem in policing, where women and ethnic minority officers are held to stricter standards than others.
Her concerns echo findings from the Casey Review into the Metropolitan Police in 2023, which found that Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic officers were more likely to face misconduct proceedings than their white counterparts.
A formal legal dispute between Khatkar and the PSA is ongoing. The case could have far-reaching implications for the culture and accountability of one of the UK’s most influential policing bodies.
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