Met police have settled a £1 Million civil case after wrongful accusations against bank manager Dale Semper in 2017. 

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After Enfield resident Semper was wrongfully accused of involvement in gun crime, he was pulled over whilst with his partner, handcuffed in front of his neighbours while his car and home were searched for firearms and later suspended from his £72,000-a-year job at Lloyds Bank. 

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Once the police search of Semper’s home revealed he was not in possession of any firearms, police then accused him of money laundering. A call by police was also made to Semper’s employer, alleging that he was involved in people smuggling. 

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During the relentless tirade, Semper’s bank accounts were frozen, his career and livelihood was jeopardised and as his partner Denise Huggan put it their family was nearly “destroyed”. Police even searched the homes of Semper’s partner and his mother, during the two-year criminal investigation that was eventually dropped. 

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Mr Semper was cleared with no further action from police. However, after the ordeal had caused him such extensive financial and mental distress (as he told the preliminary High Court hearing), he decided to take actions of his own. Semper, supported by his family, brought the million-pound damages claim against the Metropolitan police, alleging racial discrimination, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, misfeasance and breach of data protection.

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on Tuesday, Scotland Yard announced that it had settled the claim before a trial, but added:

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“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…

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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.”

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Following the settlement, Semper said: 

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“Seven years after the unjustified search of my and my family’s home, and the intrusive steps taken afterwards, the Met … has finally apologised for its officers’ conduct and settled mine and my family’s civil claims….

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

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