Campaign group supports sacked policeman

The 39-year-old was fired by a disciplinary panel after saying 'Watch the Macaroon - we almost potted the black,' when an ethnic youth stepped out in front of a car he was travelling in with four other officers last November.

Mr Guest (pictured), a father-of-four, says he is no racist and regrets what he describes as a flippant remark. He has vowed to fight for his job back.

He was a beat officer in Hailsham for two and an half years.

Backing him will be campaign group Protect the Protectors, who five years ago were behind a massive and successful campaign to reinstate Steve Hutt, a metropolitan police officer who said to a black suspect who had turned violent 'sit down you black bastard.'

Leader Norman Brennan, who is acting as Mr Guest's spokesman, said: "16,000 officers signed a petition demanding Steve Hutt's reinstatement. He made a stupid comment, even more stupid than Tim's, but the Home Secretary agreed that it was not worthy of the sack. The same goes for Tim.

"Tim was a good, hard-working police officer who made a mistake. The very maximum he should get is a 13-day wages dock, which is what Steve Hutt ended up with."

Steve Hutt's reinstatement angered the Black Police Association.

Mr Guest's case will now go to an appeal tribunal made up of a retired chief constable, a retired Police Federation official, a barrister and a Police Authority member. They will reach a verdict in three to six months

Mr Brennan, who has been a police officer for 26 years, added: "Protect the Protectors are now going to consider all our options for Tim. The Steve Hutt campaign was massive but the damage caused to the police service could be even bigger in relation to Tim Guest

"Cases like this cause more harm than good to the police force and do not foster good relations

"All human beings make mistakes. In recent years chief constables have been very keen on sacking white, heterosexual officers for one mistake or inappropriate comment despite clean track records. Your feet don't touch the ground.

"Tim's case has been dealt with appallingly. The sergeant who reported him should have taken him aside, told him that type of comment was not appropriate and given him a pocket-book caution.

"There's no place in the police service for racism or corruption but Tim is an honest and decent man who made a mistake and he regrets it. At no time has he denied these allegations.

"It's a case of using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Tim is being made a sacrificial lamb on the alter of political correctness."