Black bank manager who sued Met Police settles ‘racial profiling’ claim

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A Black bank manager who sued the Metropolitan Police over claims he faced “racial profiling” and was falsely accused of gun crime has settled his High Court case.

Dale Semper and members of his family brought a £1 million civil compensation claim against the force over the impact of property searches and a discontinued criminal investigation between 2017 and 2019.

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Law firm Holborn Adams, representing Mr Semper, who first filed his claim in August 2020, previously said in a statement that he was handcuffed in front of his neighbours and was suspended from his job amid the police activity.

Ultimately no further action was taken by police, with Mr Semper’s legal team previously claiming it had caused harm to his life and career.

In a statement on Tuesday, October 1, the Met said it stood by the need to act following information it had received but accepted “some elements of this case were not handled as well as they could have been”.

The force apologised for the impact on Mr Semper and his family and for certain comments made by officers during its investigation.

Mr Semper, who brought his case alongside his partner, Denise Huggan, and his mother, Linnette Semper, said on Tuesday: “Seven years after the unjustified search of my and my families’ homes, and the intrusive steps taken afterwards, the Metropolitan Police has finally apologised for its officers’ conduct and settled my and my families’ civil claims against them.

“We remain convinced that the actions taken against me were motivated by racism, both conscious and unconscious.

“This is a bitter-sweet moment as, although I feel some justice has been done, my and my family’s lives have been torn apart by the unjustified actions of the police, and the extreme delays in responding to our complaints, which, disgracefully, remain ongoing seven years after the events.

“I hope that my case can be an example to the Met and will assist in (Met Commissioner) Sir Mark Rowley’s stated intention to make the Met ‘truly anti-racist’.

“We would now welcome an invitation by Sir Mark to discuss with him how we were treated and how the Met can learn from our experiences.”

Holborn Adams said the Met has agreed to reinvestigate parts of complaints made by Mr Semper and his family.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy said: “The Metropolitan Police has settled a civil claim brought by Dale Semper and members of his family relating to a series of events which occurred between 2017 and 2019.

“This involved searches of their properties and a criminal investigation which was ultimately discontinued with no further action being taken.

“We stand by the necessity to act following information that was received, but accept some elements of this case were not handled as well as they could have been and we apologise for the impact that has had on the complainants.

“The Metropolitan Police has already apologised during the complaints procedure for certain comments which were made by officers during the investigation and reiterates that apology.”