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IC Heaps faces racism allegation
Page 7
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A COMPLAINT about alleged racial discrimination has been levelled at Traffic Commissioner Christopher Heaps after a Public Inquiry (PI).
The managing director for transport consultancy Trans-Consult says he has made a formal request to the Secretary of State for Transport, Alistair Darling, to investigate Heaps' conduct after one of his clients appeared before him at an Eastbourne PI on 10 September.
Alec Hayden claims Heaps failed to explain basic PI rules to the Indian owner of a transport company — who did not understand English fully — such as making clear that he must tell the truth and asking whether he had legal representation. He also allegedly did not ask why there was no interpreter. A Heaps: 'Disgusting -Christopher Heaps put him through halfan-hour's grilling; the PI was not conducted properly." protests Hayden. "It was nothing short of disgusting."
Hayden says he has also raised the matter with the Commission for Racial Equality and will complain to the Law Society as well.
A spokesman for the Department for Transport says: "We cannot comment on a particular case. However in general, legal representation is not required at Pis. Operators often represent themselves or use non-professional advisers When operators are called to PI, the procedures are explained to them in advance and they are asked if they require