Street-Porter cleared of racist abuse allegation

The broadcaster and journalist Janet Street-Porter has been told by police that no action will be taken against her over claims that she racially abused a neighbour during a street row.

Ms Street-Porter, 59, editor-at-large of the Independent On Sunday and a columnist for this newspaper, had been accused of using racist language in a row with Julie Mbemba late last year outside her home in Clerkenwell, central London.

The journalist was arrested on 16 January in connection with an alleged racially aggravated public order offence, but yesterday the Metropolitan Police said that no action would be taken.

Ms Street-Porter strongly denied making racist remarks. She said that she "abhorred racism in any form". She had also apologised "unreservedly to Ms Mbemba for swearing at her and causing her distress".

In a statement in January, she said: "Anyone who is aware of my track record in journalism and the media knows my strong anti-racist views."