FOLLOWING news that an environmentalist, Tim Nicholson, had recently been given the go-ahead to bring a religious discrimination claim against his employers comes a report that a police employee has achieved a similar victory – but in this case SPIRITUALISM is at the core of the claim.
According to this BBC report, Alan Power, 62, from Merseyide, says he was forced out of his job with Greater Manchester Police in October 2008 because of his spiritualist views.
An employment tribunal rejected the police authority’s assertion that his beliefs did not amount to religious views.
Power said he believed psychics could contact people after their death and help in the investigation of crime.
He said his beliefs stemmed back to his childhood when he saw “ghosts”.
At a hearing in Manchester, a tribunal judge ruled Mr Power’s convictions were “capable of being religious beliefs” and were covered by the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003.
But Mark Hill QC, from the Greater Manchester Police Authority, said the ruling could open the “floodgates” for a series of similar claims.
A hearing in London was told that spiritualism was the eighth largest faith group in Britain, with 32,000 people claiming allegiance, according to the 2001 Census.
Outside the tribunal, Mr Power spoke of his delight at the judge’s decision.
It’s fantastic. It proves that spiritualism is a religion worthy of respect. I haven’t claimed any costs. I’m not claiming compensation. It’s about hurt feelings. I expect my religion to be respected.
A hearing on 23 November will decide if he was, in fact, forced out of his job through religious discrimination.
Hear what atheist comedian Tim Minchin has to say about spiritualism, spirituality, homeopathy – and anti-science bunkum in general – in his nine-minute beat poem, Storm:
Hat Tip: Ian E
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
November 15th, 2009 at 6:46 am
I don’t think any religion is worthy of respect (though individuals may well be). And to think this policeman believes psychics contacting the dead could provide real assistance in crime investigations is a bit worrying. Had he tried applying that in practise, I suspect he’d hava had a harder time in court (and, yes, I know psychics do get consulted occasionally by police in various places around the world- and ineffectually).
R
November 15th, 2009 at 9:14 am
I can’t seem to find what Mr Power’s status was with the Police; I just hope he wasn’t in a position to influence any prosecutions. Given the propensity for our courts and the Police to have a hand in an alarming number of miscarriages of justice, this type of loon is last sort of person to be involved.
Diddums, he wants his religion respected. Is this the same sort of respect religious nutters show those who don’t share their fairy tales?
November 15th, 2009 at 11:38 am
I think that the more people bring ridiculous claims, like that psychics can help the police, and the more those claims are found as deserving of respect as religious beliefs the better.
Religious beliefs are not any more sensible than this. Perhaps this is the way to show people.
November 15th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
I would have thought that as a believer in psychic nonsense he would be incapable of doing his job properly. GMP should have cited that as the reason for firing him.
November 15th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Sounds to me like again someone is being got at for forcing their religious opinions on others rather than for holding them. In his case he wanted police procedures changed based on his.
November 15th, 2009 at 7:33 pm
Great video link thanks Barry.