A Metropolitan Police detective has lost her employment tribunal case after claiming she faced discrimination and harassment due to her gender critical beliefs following an internal trans rights event.
Detective Constable Melanie Newman brought the legal action after attending the Met’s “Trans Day of Visibility” event in March 2023. She alleged the event caused her to feel “isolation and dread” and compared her experience to being “Daniel in the lion’s den”.
DC Newman, who joined the force in March 2022, told the South London employment tribunal that the event, held at New Scotland Yard and accessible online, featured a one-sided presentation by trans rights activist Eva Echo. She claimed the activist’s remarks were extreme and presented a conspiratorial perspective on gender debates.
The tribunal heard that Eva Echo described opponents of her views as being part of a “cult” with “twisted and warped” beliefs, accused them of fuelling a “manufactured moral panic” and claimed trans people were targeted with hate. DC Newman said these comments left her feeling unable to challenge the speaker.
She said in her witness statement, “At various points during Eva Echo’s talk I wanted to challenge what was said but was scared that I would then be labelled part of the ‘cult’ and that there would be repercussions.”
She added, “I felt like an incognito Daniel in the lion’s den.”
Claims of discrimination rejected by tribunal
DC Newman told the tribunal she was particularly concerned by advice during the event that officers should write to their MPs, with the speaker suggesting they “hound” MPs if they were Conservatives. She described the atmosphere at the event as hostile, with some attendees “hissing” at mentions of gender-critical activist Posie Parker.
Following her complaint, the Met reviewed the event and later established a “gender critical network” within the force to support staff sharing such views.
However, the tribunal dismissed her harassment and discrimination claims. It found that the Met was entitled to hold the event and that the purpose of the session was not to harass those with gender critical beliefs.
Employment Judge Christina Morton ruled, “We were unable to find in this contemporaneous documentation any evidence of discrimination towards gender critical beliefs operating on the minds of any of those who made these decisions.”
The tribunal also found that decisions made in relation to the event were not influenced by discriminatory motives against those with gender critical views.
Met Police responds to tribunal decision
After the ruling, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson said, “This case demonstrates the difficulty organisations face in striking the balance between supporting trans colleagues and those with gender critical beliefs.”
The Met added that it remained committed to supporting all staff and fostering a respectful and inclusive working environment.
DC Newman had argued during the proceedings that her complaints led to feelings of isolation within the force. While the Met introduced the new gender critical staff network after her complaint, the tribunal found no evidence that her treatment breached employment law.
Alessandra Pacelli is a journalist and author contributing to HRreview, an HR news and opinion publication, where she covers topics including labour market trends, employment costs, and workplace issues. She is a journalism graduate and self-described lifelong dog lover who has also written for Dogs Today magazine since 2014.
- Alessandra Pacelli
- Alessandra Pacelli
- Alessandra Pacelli
- Alessandra Pacelli
