Ex-PCSO settles Christian discrimination case

An ex-police community support officer (PCSO) has agreed a legal settlement against his former employer after he claimed he had been discriminated against because of his Christian beliefs.

Luke Salmons said he resigned during a suspension imposed after asking questions about Islam and Gaza in a diversity training session. A North Yorkshire Police (NYP) panel found his behaviour amounted to gross misconduct and barred him from policing.

However, he successfully appealed the decision and was told he could apply for policing roles in the future.

The force said it "respects the rights of all individuals" but "the expression of beliefs must always be with due consideration of respect and courtesy".

In the case, first reported by the Telegraph, Salmons said the course, in autumn 2024, featured Islam over other religions and recalled instructors chanting the phrase: "Islam is a religion of peace", which he described as "indoctrination".

NYP denied the training involved "chanting or religious indoctrination".

According to advocacy group Christian Concern, which supported Salmons, he also received negative responses when asking questions about government action on antisemitism and the "normalisation of underage sex" in other training.

In another session, delivered by a Muslim police sergeant, attendees were, Salmons said, free to discuss difficult topics.

The 46-year-old said he raised a question on Islam and the situation in the Middle East during a conversation which he described as "respectful but robust".

"I believed I was on safe ground when the training sessions invited open discussion," he said.

He was suspended from his role two days later and resigned in May 2025, due to what he described as a feeling of being "pushed out".

Supported by lawyers at the Christian Legal Centre, Mr Salmons appealed the professional conduct panel's decision and the outcome was later overturned by Chief Constable Tim Forber.

A statement from the force said: "The appeal was, as is normal process, escalated for the attention of the Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police who upheld the appeal, finding that while there were concerns over behaviour, this did not represent gross misconduct nor a breach of any of the Police Staff Standards of Professional Behaviour.

"The individual was removed from the College of Policing barred list as an appeal outcome."

Salmons brought legal claims against the force's Chief Contable, alleging the force unlawfully discriminated against him because of his Christian beliefs and violated his rights to freedom of religion and expression under the European Convention on Human Rights.

That case has now been settled on confidential terms.

"I am pleased to have now reached a settlement, I want to move on with my life but believe radical national change is needed in our police force," Salmons said.

The force spokesperson added that it was "an inclusive employer and respects the rights of all individuals to their beliefs".

"The expression of those beliefs must always be with due consideration of respect and courtesy in line with our force values and behaviours framework," they said.

"As a public service we should properly understand the communities in which we serve and to make sure that North Yorkshire Police is an inclusive organisation where everyone - no matter what their race, religion, sexuality, gender or other belief is - feels like they belong and can contribute to our strength and direction."

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