Rank and file police officers today angrily condemned claims that the Met was still institutionally racist.

In the latest twist to the race war engulfing Scotland Yard, the Met Police Federation hit back at the claims made by Alfred John, chairman of the Met's Black Police Association.

Mr John, a civilian employee at the Met, claimed at the press conference held by Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur that his case was "not an isolated incident".

He said: "Racism, both institutional and individual, still continues within the Met. In fact, it has not improved that much since the Macpherson report."

The report came after the 1999 inquiry into the failed investigation into the murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence which concluded the Met was "institutionally racist".

His comments were attacked by the Met Police Federation's chairman Peter Smyth who said: "We do not accept that the Met is institutionally racist.

"Mr John has totally failed to acknowledge the huge efforts made by thousands of men and women to eradicate racism within the service.

"Mr John should now substantiate the very serious allegation that he has made."

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