Female officer tells court of “toxic and discriminatory” culture in firearms unit

A female firearms officer has told a court that she felt frightened for her family’s safety after making complaints about a “toxic and discriminatory” culture in her unit.

Detective Inspector Rebecca Kalam, who was one of only seven women in a unit with 250 men, says she was warned by colleagues that there was talk she would regret making a stand – leading her to feel threatened and scared.

Today she was giving evidence in a compensation hearing after winning an employment tribunal against West Midlands Police.