The British Metropolitan Police has settled a lawsuit filed by a Black executive who was falsely accused in a gun-related criminal case, resulting in a two-year suspension from his $90,000-a-year job at Lloyds Bank.
The settlement stems from an alleged racial profiling incident in which Dale Semper was pulled over by police in August 2017 while driving his partner, Denise Huggan, to a nearby train station.
Semper, a resident of Enfield, was placed in handcuffs and driven back to his house, where his property was searched, causing an embarrassing scene in front of his neighbors. Officers ransacked his car and home, looking for firearms, but ultimately came up empty-handed.
Police also searched the homes of Semper’s partner and mother.
Sempter believes that “racial profiling” played a crucial role in how he and his family were treated throughout the ordeal.
Making matters worse, when no firearms were discovered, police shifted their focus and accused Semper of money laundering.
Law enforcement officials then contacted Semper’s employer, accusing him of being connected to human trafficking.
As the criminal probe unfolded over the next two years, Semper’s world was turned upside down, putting his career and livelihood on the line through no fault of his own.
Semper explained that his bank accounts were frozen during the investigation.
He was ultimately cleared of the criminal charges in 2019, and no further action was taken by the police. He was even later reinstated to his job. However, the damage was done, with Semper’s name and reputation in ruins.
A preliminary High Court hearing revealed that Semper experienced significant trauma, enduring two years of stress and anxiety while being investigated for suspected involvement in gun-running.
Soon thereafter, Semper hired an attorney and filed a $1.3 million damages claim against the Metropolitan Police, alleging racial discrimination, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, misfeasance, and breach of data protection.
Scotland Yard announced on Oct. 1 that it had settled the claim before Semper’s lawsuit went to trial.
The specifics of the settlement, including the amount paid to Semper, were not disclosed.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy confirmed the settlement in a statement, acknowledging some mishandling by police officials during the investigation.
“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 apologize for the impact that has had on the complainants,” she wrote.
While defending its right to investigate criminal complaints, the police issued an apology for the treatment of Semper and his family.
“Seven years after the unjustified search of my and my families’ homes, and the intrusive steps taken afterwards, the Metropolitan Police has finally apologized for its officers’ conduct and settled my and my families’ civil claims against them,” Semper said in a statement released through his lawyers Holborn Adams, according to the UK publication The Standard. “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.”
