New Charges Considered Against Senior Police Officers in Stephen Lawrence Investigation

A thorough and comprehensive investigation has led the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to pass a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service, recommending that four former senior police officers be considered for criminal charges over alleged misconduct in public office in the original Stephen Lawrence murder investigation. The four ex-Metropolitan Police officers held senior roles in the first few weeks of the investigation into the murder of 18-year-old Stephen Lawrence, who was stabbed to death by a racist gang in 1993. This development comes as a public inquiry into the use of undercover officers to spy on the Lawrence family's campaign for justice has gotten underway.

Key Takeaways:

• The IOPC has passed a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) recommending that four former senior police officers be considered for criminal charges over alleged misconduct in public office in the original Stephen Lawrence murder investigation.
• The four ex-Metropolitan Police officers held senior roles in the first few weeks of the investigation into the murder of 18-year-old Stephen Lawrence, who was stabbed to death by a racist gang in 1993.
• The IOPC has confirmed that the investigation involved the gathering and analysis of several million pages of information and intelligence spanning over 27 years since the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence and the attack on Duwayne Brooks on April 22, 1993.
• NCA investigators have interviewed over 150 people, including serving and former police officers and staff involved in the original murder inquiry, relevant witnesses, and others, including journalists with in-depth knowledge of the original investigation.
• The referral to the CPS does not necessarily mean that criminal charges will follow, and it will be up to prosecutors to determine whether charges should be brought and against whom.
• The original investigation into Stephen Lawrence's death was hampered by institutional racism in the Metropolitan Police and claims that corrupt officers had sought to protect one of the killers.
• The public inquiry into the use of undercover officers to spy on the Lawrence family's campaign for justice has gotten underway.

Statistics:

• 27 years since the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence and the attack on Duwayne Brooks on April 22, 1993.
• 4 former senior police officers recommended for criminal charges over alleged misconduct in public office.
• 150 people interviewed by NCA investigators, including serving and former police officers and staff involved in the original murder inquiry, relevant witnesses, and others.
• Several million pages of information and intelligence gathered and analyzed by NCA investigators since the original investigation.

Sources:

• "Ex-cop's name wiped off internet at request of undercover detective", The Guardian (February 1, 2020)
• "Stephen Lawrence inquiry: Met Police to face new allegations of racism", The Independent (February 20, 2020)
• "Stephen Lawrence: Family 'shocked' by new allegations of police corruption", BBC News (February 21, 2020)
• "Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) Annual Report 2019-2020", IOPC (September 2020)