Yard nears deal over Dizaei

Scoland Yard is believed to be on the brink of settling a deal with the black officer cleared at the Old Bailey last week on corruption charges.

The Met would abandon internal disciplinary charges which Superintendent Ali Dizaei still faces. In return, black officers would lift their boycott of police recruitment campaigns.

Home Secretary David Blunkett has intervened to try to settle the bitter dispute and is said to be anxious to see the row cleared up as soon as possible in order that the recruitment of more black officers can go ahead.

At the National Black Police Association conference yesterday, Mr Blunkett said: "Behind the scenes I have been trying to broker a solution."

Mr Blunkett said he wanted to "find a way to ensure that you don't have to ask young people to think twice about joining the Met if they are from an ethnic minority background".

It is believed that the deal involves Mr Dizaei being asked to resign in return for disciplinary charges being dropped, a condition he may find unacceptable.