HUNDREDS of distraught residents who were falsely accused of racial abuse by a Watford Council officer have appointed a committee to fight for compensation.
A letter threatening to evict people from their homes for ethnic discrimination was sent to 114 addresses in Gaddesden Crescent by Mr Jay Mistry, a racial harassment project officer.
The five-member committee are awaiting the outcome of independent inquiry into the incident, before seeking legal advice.
In his letter, Mr Mistry singled out each member of the households by their first name, and described incidents which "involved members of your household abusing, threatening and physically assaulting some members of the community in the neighbourhood".
Embarrassed council chiefs suspended the officer and seized his computer on Monday morning, pending an independent inquiry into the incident.
The terrified Garston residents, who deny all allegations of racism, fear repercussions from the "naming and shaming".
See this week's Watford Observer for an in-depth report
June 28, 2002 14:00
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