This story from the Independent continues the recent trend of my increasing incredulity at the absolute stupidity of 1) Employment Law and 2) Judges. It also dovetails nicely with my recent postings on Derek Acorah (If you haven’t watched the Harry Hill clip yet, I urge you to do so.)
“A police worker who was sacked because he believed psychics can help solve criminal investigations is to go to court today to defend his right to legal protection from religious discrimination.
In the first case of its kind Alan Power, a trainer with Greater Manchester Police, will rely on a previous judgment that found his belief in mediums who contact the dead is akin to a religious or philosophical conviction.
In an unpublished judgement in Mr Power’s favour seen by The Independent, the employment specialist Judge Peter Russell said that psychic beliefs are capable of being religious beliefs for the purpose of the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003. This is the same law which was used by the environmental campaigner Tim Nicholson when he successfully argued that green beliefs were the same as religious beliefs in a case decided last week.
In Mr Power’s case Judge Peter Russell, sitting at Manchester Employment Tribunal, said: “I am satisfied that the claimant’s beliefs that there is life after death and that the dead can be contacted through mediums are worthy of respect in a democratic society and have sufficient cogency, seriousness, cohesion and importance to fall into the category of a philosophical belief for the purpose of the 2003 Regulations.”
Mr Power told the court that he had a belief in psychics and their “usefulness in police investigations” and wanted the judge to confirm that holding such a belief is not a justification for dismissal. Mr Power has been a member of a Spiritualist church for more than 30 years and gave evidence that Spiritualist churches have ordained ministers and that hymns are sung at church services. When cross-examined by lawyers for the Greater Manchester Police he said his religion was one of love because he believed in a God of love rather than one of retribution.
Judge Russell said that a later hearing would have to establish whether the claimant was “dismissed for the possession of religious or philosophical beliefs or for his alleged inappropriate foisting of his beliefs on others.”
Meanwhile
This story from the Guardian is worth a read. It concerns an apparent suicide case which was reopened because some psychics went to the police with information saying that contrary to suicide the man had been murdered and that a “lion, a horse and a man called Tony Fox” were significant.
The true level of the usefulness of clairvoyants and psychics in police work is perhaps betrayed in the final paragraph:
A police source said: “We are becoming a laughing stock. We went haring across the country looking for a lion, a horse and someone called Fox based on info from cranks. Not surprisingly, it turned out to be a wild goose chase which cost at least £20,000 in time and resources.”
So there you have it. It seems that you can believe any old pish you want these days, your boss will have to like it or lump it no matter how bizarre the belief, AND the law will protect you if someone points out that in fact Derek Acorah is a fraud.
It can only be a matter of time before animal lovers are given legal protection from being told that bears shit in the woods.
Filed under: Hoaxes and Scams, Religion | Tagged: alan power, derek acorah, judge peter russell | Leave a Comment »






