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Alfred John, the Metropolitan Black Police Association’s chairman, claimed that opportunities for promotion at Scotland Yard had declined since the Macpherson report, with fewer black officers in senior roles despite an additional 2,000 black and ethnic minority recruits.

Asked whether it had got worse, Mr John added: “It has indeed, the progression of black staff is in fact worse now than it was 10 years ago...

“If it gets too oppressive within the organisation it is inherently dangerous for us to be encouraging people to join and walking into what we consider to be a hostile environment.

“In that it is dangerous that they will face racism, oppression — we have seen over the past few weeks what can happen to senior managers who speak out about racism and discrimination that is taking place within the organisation."

Mike Fuller, Britain's first black chief constable, will tonight appear to back up the black officers concerns, in an interview on Panorama on BBC One in which he says that black officers often have to work twice as hard to get ahead.

The boycott comes at a time when Scotland Yard is already embroiled in a race row with the country’s most senior Asian police officer, Tarique Ghaffur. The atmosphere of confrontation deepened several weeks ago when the MPA suspended Commander Ali Dizaei, president of the National Black Police Association, over alleged misconduct.

Some MPA members gave warning today that Mr Johnson's inquiry would jeopardise the authority's position in these employment disputes. Jennette Arnold said that it “seems strange” to hold an inquiry when at least one high-profile tribunal is outstanding.

Ms Butts meanwhile defended her planned inquiry, saying that the majority of people on its panel will be drawn from outside the police service and the MPA.

Ms Butts said: “I want to review progress to date and make sure we are picking up on the lessons learned and lessons from these three [previous] inquiries.”

Sir Paul Stephenson, the Deputy Commissioner of the force, said: “I hope the inquiry gives us the opportunity to highlight what has already been achieved and what more must be done.

“It is an important opportunity to provide the reassurance that people are looking for.”

Mr Johnson was also criticised for insisting on the resignation of Sir Ian Blair, the former Metropolitan Police Commissioner who quit last Thursday.

Jenny Jones, a Green member of the MPA, attacked the Mayor for excluding the MPA from decisions surrounding Sir Ian’s future. “I do understand how you feel, you need somebody you can work with, but it is crucial for us to feel we have a role to play in that procedure,” she said.

Mr Johnson replied that the circumstances had been exceptional and senior officers need not fear that anything similar would happen again.

He said: “I think the chances of anything like this happening again are extremely, vanishingly remote.

“I thought with the position London policing was in, I thought it was the right thing to do and I think that the vast majority of people will agree with us.”

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