A senior black Metropolitan Police officer today withdrew race discrimination claims against the force after reaching an out-of-court settlement.

Superintendent Paul Wilson, 51, a former chairman of the Metropolitan Black Police Association, had alleged that his career was held back because of racial discrimination.

His claims were withdrawn and formally dismissed at Croydon employment Tribunal in south London after an out-of-court settlement was reached in which the Met made no admission of liability.

Mr Wilson had brought the claims against the Met and his former borough commander at Lambeth, Sharon Rowe, who is now an assistant chief constable with the West Midlands police force.

Mr Wilson, speaking after the settlement was reached, said: “I have today reached an amicable settlement of my claims with the commissioner and assistant chief constable Sharon Rowe and I have decided that my concerns are best resolved through internal discussions with the Metropolitan Police. I shall take them no further externally.”

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “The employment tribunal claim brought by Superintendent Paul Wilson has been withdrawn by him without any admission of liability whatsoever on the part of the Metropolitan Police Service or Assistant Chief Constable Rowe.”

It was understood that part of his claim related to a document he wrote for a long overdue race inquiry ordered by the Metropolitan Police Authority. He had claimed he was sidelined after his report highlighted racial bias.

Mr Wilson, who works in Lambeth in charge of the Safer Neighbourhood teams and counter terrorism, is understood to have received less than £10,000 as part of the settlement.

He had been seeking £112,000 in compensation as part of his race discrimination claim.