The Metropolitan Police has settled a damages claim brought by a black bank manager who said he was “racially profiled” and wrongly accused of gun crime.
Dale Semper was handcuffed in front of neighbours as his car and home were searched for firearms, leading to a suspension from his £72,000-a-year Lloyds Bank job because of the criminal investigation.
Police also searched the homes of Mr Semper’s partner and mother during an investigation which stretched between 2017 and 2019.
Mr Semper was ultimately cleared with no further action from police, and he and his family then brought a £1 million damages claim against the Met, alleging racial discrimination, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, misfeasance and breach of data protection.
Scotland Yard announced on Tuesday that it has now settled the claim before a trial, and while standing by its right to investigate criminal complaints the force issued an apology for the treatment of Mr Semper and his relatives.
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.”
A preliminary High Court hearing was told that Mr Semper suffered deep trauma and endured two years of stress and anxiety while he was under investigation, suspected of involvement in gun crime.
The Enfield resident was first pulled over by police with his partner Denise Huggan in August 2017, as he drove her to the train station.
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Officers ordered him out of the car and he was handcuffed, before being driven back to his home so the property could be searched.
Mr Semper was shocked to learn officers were hunting for guns, and when no firearms were found they then said he was suspected of money laundering.
A call was also placed to his employers, the court heard, with an accusation that he was linked to people smuggling.
Mr Semper said his bank accounts were frozen during the criminal probe, he was suspended from work and later reinstated, and he claimed “racial profiling” was behind his treatment.
“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”, said Mr Semper, in a statement released through his lawyers Holborn Adams.
“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 Police 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.”
His barrister Adam Wagner told the court Mr Semper’s “high-flying career as a bank manager” had been affected as well as his mental health, and he said the family want answers as to why “a black man - a businessman and successful bank manager - would be put through what he was put through”.
Details of the settlement with Mr Semper and his family have not been revealed.
