Four ex-police officers could face charges over Stephen Lawrence murder probe
Four senior police officers involved in the early stages of the original Stephen Lawrence murder probe could face misconduct charges nearly 30 years after the racist killing.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it will pass ‘a full file’ of evidence to prosecutors – who will then consider whether to pursue criminal charges against the former Metropolitan Police officers.
The officers had senior roles in the first few weeks of the original investigation after Stephen, 18, was targeted by a gang of up to six people in Eltham, south-east London, on April 22, 1993, with best friend Duwayne Brooks.
Gary Dobson and David Norris were jailed for life in 2012 for the racially-motivated killing after traces of evidence linked them to the murder. Other men were arrested but have never been charged.
IOPC regional director Sarah Green said: ‘Following thorough and careful analysis of the evidence, we have decided there is an indication that four former officers may have committed the offence of misconduct in public office in relation to their actions and omissions prior to the arrests of the five key suspects for Stephen’s murder in 1993.
‘We will be providing a full file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) over coming days.’
Ms Green said it was important to note that the CPS referral did not necessarily mean criminal charges will follow.
‘It will now be for prosecutors to determine, applying the tests set out in the Code for Crown Prosecutors, whether charges should follow and, if so, for whom and what those charges may be,’ she added.
Stephen’s family continue to fight for justice with his brother, Stuart, pleading with the public for information after the police declared the case inactive in August this year.
Stephen’s father Neville said: ‘I welcome the news that this investigation, which has been running for over five years, has finally reached a conclusion and is taking the positive step of referring officers to the CPS.
‘However, I have yet to see the investigation report. I need to see this to understand how their conclusions have been reached.
‘It is 27 years since Stephen’s death and we are still seeking justice, including against the police who failed in the original investigation.’
The original investigation into Stephen’s death was hampered by institutional racism in the Metropolitan Police.
It was also dogged by claims corrupt officers tried to protect David Norris – whose dad, Clifford Norris, was a notorious drug dealer.
Former detective sergeant John Davidson was last year cleared by the IOPC of any corruption, after claims that he was in the pay of Clifford Norris.
The IOPC directed a spin-off probe into the handling of the early stages of the investigation, and it was carried out by the National Crime Agency (NCA).
It took into consideration a two-week delay in making any arrests after the murder – despite anonymous informants naming suspects one day after Stephen died.
Ms Green added: ‘This has been a vast and comprehensive investigation by the NCA, involving 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 also 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.’
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