Having won his fight to clear his name and reputation, Metropolitan Police Sergeant Gurpal Virdi is set to go back to what he does best - fighting crime. Mr Virdi today signed a settlement agreement with the Met at the CRE.

As part of the agreement the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir John Stevens, will tomorrow give Mr Virdi a letter of apology at New Scotland Yard. In the letter, Sir John says the Met now recognises the suffering caused to Mr Virdi, his family and the local Sikh community because of the way his case was handled.

The Met is due to pay compensation of £90,000 to Mr Virdi for injury to his feelings. This follows a previous compensation award decided by an employment tribunal in December 2000.

In 1998 Mr Virdi was wrongly accused of sending racist literature to colleagues. Since then, his personal integrity and reputation have been severely tarnished and his family life profoundly affected. He has fought his case with dignity through months of criminal investigation followed by civil litigation to prove he was the victim of racial discrimination and not the perpetrator of crimes against his colleagues.

Mr Virdi said "This is the end of a long and extremely traumatic process for me and my family. This settlement means I can get back to what I am best at - high quality policing that serves my community."

CRE Lawyer Lisa Connerty added " It's welcome news that Mr Virdi is returning to the service and that the Met are welcoming him back. He is just the kind of talented officer they cannot do without."

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