Anger of PC accused of racism: Officer investigated after telling pro-Kurd protester 'you don't tell me what to do in my country' during clashes

• Marcus Tyson was responding to pro-Kurd activist during an ugly clash
• Metropolitan Police officer has served on the frontline for almost 29 years
• He is now under investigation and could be sacked for gross misconduct

A police officer is under investigation for racism after telling a demonstrator: 'You don't tell me what to do in my country.'

Marcus Tyson was responding to a screaming pro-Kurd activist who told him to 'get out of here' during an ugly clash.

The Metropolitan Police officer, who has served on the frontline for almost 29 years, thought little more about the incident.

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Marcus Tyson was responding to a screaming pro-Kurd activist who told him to 'get out of here' during an ugly clash

But after a video was posted online, he found himself under investigation for racism and could now be sacked for gross misconduct.

Yesterday, Pc Tyson blasted his force for overreacting and described their actions as akin to 'Stalinist thought police'.

He accused his superiors of 'oppressive political correctness' and said many colleagues are 'afraid to do their jobs properly' as a result.

'I would like to know upon what basis they regard my statement as being racist — it is purely a statement of fact that this is my country,' he told The Sunday Times.

'The action the Department of Professional Standards has taken against me is so wildly over the top, it discredits the investigators and brings their judgment into question.'

The exchange took place when Mr Tyson was supervising a demonstration by members of the Kurdish community near Portland Place, central London, last month.

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The Metropolitan Police officer has served on the frontline for almost 29 years

A video posted online shows the Pc being verbally abused by protesters as he strolls along in full uniform, with one saying: 'F*** the police.'

Tyson is then confronted by a woman activist, one of the event organisers, to whom he says: 'You don't tell me what to do in my country.'

In notes taken at the end of the protest, Pc Tyson said protesters were also chanting messages of support for the PKK, a Kurdish terrorist group which is banned in Britain.

He said some were deliberately blocking traffic and he made the comment after moving a woman out of the way of an ambulance.

She then became 'irate' and repeatedly shouted at him to 'get out of here', he claims. He said he responded: 'I'm doing my job, it's a shame you haven't done yours.'

The activist made a formal complaint to the Met on August 20, about which Tyson was notified in writing on September 6.

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Pc Tyson has found himself under investigation for racism and could now be sacked for gross misconduct

However, the wording in the complaint does not exactly match the wording of Tyson's comment, which can be heard in the online video.

The woman alleges he said: 'You can't teach me what I can do in my country.' However, the video captures him saying: 'You don't tell me what to do in my country.'

Last week he was placed under investigation for allegedly 'breaching the standards of professional behaviour' by 'using discriminatory language'.

Speaking out after being placed under investigation, Pc Tyson – who is now on sick leave with stress – said the inquiry 'tips over into incompetence.'

'The investigators can't even get the most basic wording right and there's even a video to prove it,' he said.

'The complainant is entitled to make a complaint if she feels there has been some inappropriate behaviour towards her by police or others,' he said.

'Then the DPS are duty-bound to investigate that.

'But the problem then is it would appear to be as if political correctness has completely overtaken the decision making process as to how this investigation is to proceed.

'It is highly prejudicial to have put me on restricted duties.

'There are an awful lot of my colleagues who are suffering from this awful and oppressive political correctness that's infected the professional standards units in all of the boroughs and the DPS Met-wide.

'It means that officers are afraid to do their jobs properly.'

A Met spokesman confirmed Pc Tyson is under investigation. He declined to respond to the officer's comments.