A gay police officer who claimed Hampshire Police discriminated against him by banning him wearing an earring has settled his case.
The Southampton employment tribunal was told yesterday that PC Neil Bloomfield and the force had reached a confidential agreement.
Bloomfield said he was pleased with the outcome. He had argued that male officers should not be prevented from wearing jewellery if female officers were permitted to wear it.
Bloomfield, an officer in the Special Branch in Portsmouth, had been claiming compensation for hurt feelings.
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He had wanted recommendations to the dress code for the force to ensure it applied equally to all officers.
Bloomfield told the tribunal his ear stud was an indicator of his sexual orientation but that his superior officers had warned him, in February 2005, he would be suspended if he wore it.
