SCOTLAND Yard apologised today to the family of former Matlock man Ian Tomlinson.
Mr Tomlinson died after being pushed to the ground by PC Simon Harwood during G20 protests in 2009.
The force confirmed it has reached an out-of-court settlement with his family.
Mr Tomlinson's widow, Julia, said it is "as close as we are going to get to justice".
She has described the past four years as "a really hard uphill battle" as her family has fought to get to the truth of what happened to the 47-year-old.
Mr Tomlinson was hit with a baton and shoved by Pc Simon Harwood during G20 demonstrations in the City of London, and later collapsed and died.
An inquest jury found that Mr Tomlinson was unlawfully killed, but Pc Harwood was cleared of manslaughter at a trial at Southwark Crown Court last year.
The Metropolitan Police paid tribute to the pain that his widow and family have "endured with dignity" since his death.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Maxine de Brunner said: "I take full responsibility for the actions of Simon Harwood on April 1 2009. His actions fell far below the standard we expect from our officers. I accept the finding of the inquest that Mr Tomlinson was unlawfully killed.
"As the jury found, 'at the time of the strike and push Mr Tomlinson was walking away from the police line. He was complying with police instructions to leave Royal Exchange Buildings. He posed no threat.' Today, I apologise unreservedly for Simon Harwood's use of excessive and unlawful force, which caused Mr Tomlinson's death, and for the suffering and distress caused to his family as a result."
