Mr Barnes is a white Detective Chief Inspector. In the year 2000 complaints were made about his investigation into the death of a black woman. Criminal charges against him were dropped but a disciplinary board found four charges of misconduct proved. In February 2004, he was "required to resign". In June 2004 the Independent Police Complaints Commission released a decision of the review of disciplinary proceedings against a Supt Dizaei. The circumstances were otherwise similar to those of Mr Barnes. This prompted Mr Barnes to issue proceedings claiming race discrimination.