Met chief's grovelling apology on Dizaei inquiry

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He said the probe into Iranian-born Chief Superintendent Ali Dizaei had caused a rift between his force and black officers and said it was time to "acknowledge mistakes".

The Commissioner's comments came after the Met and the Black Police Association agreed to "resolve all disputes" arising out of the multi-million pound inquiry into Mr Dizaei, an outspoken critic of racism.

The last involved a ruling that the Met had unlawfully tapped private phone calls made by Mr Dizaei during the inquiry.

They included calls in which Mr Dizaei gave advice to black and Asian colleagues in disputes with their own forces.

It is believed the Met has agreed to pay tens of thousands of pounds in compensation.

Part of yesterday's statement said: "In acknowledging these mistakes and making this apology, the Met hopes to restore to the Black Police Association a measure of trust and confidence in our organisation."

But officers linked to the investigation condemned the statement.

One said: "There was no need for Sir Ian to cave in like this. Again it appears he's bowed to political correctness to protect his back."

A four-year corruption investigation was launched against Mr Dizaei in 1999.

He was accused of drug abuse, using prostitutes, spying for Iran and making a series of "deeply unpleasant" threatening phone calls to a girlfriend.

In March this year, Mr Dizaei - now head of policing in Hammersmith and Fulham - wrote a controversial book about this time at Scotland Yard.