Stephen Lawrence cops accused of misconduct 'won't face criminal charges'

06 July 2023 , 12:20

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Stephen Lawrence was murdered by racist thugs in 1993 (Image: PA)

Four officers accused of misconduct in the Stephen Lawrence murder probe will not face criminal charges.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) says it will not be pressing charges against the Met Police officers over their actions in the case.

It comes three years after the CPS began investigating a dossier of evidence into their alleged mishandling of the murder of the 18-year-old, who died after being attacked by a gang of racist white men in Eltham, South London, in April 1993.

The officers in question, who have retired from the force since the murder, were all investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

They are Detective Superintendent Ian Crampton, who was senior investigating officer (SIO) in the four days after the murder, Detective Superintendent Brian Weeden, who took over and was in charge for 14 months, and Detective Inspector Benjamin Bullock, who acted as deputy SIO under Mr Crampton and Mr Weeden.

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Detective Chief Superintendent William Ilsley, who oversaw the first team investigating the murder, was also looked into.

Gary Dobson, one of the two men jailed for murdering 18-year-old Stephen (Metropolitan Police via Getty Images)

David Norris (PA)

The latest development comes a day after Met chief Sir Mark Rowley said the ongoing probe in Stephen's murder may never progress further due to the scale of its mishandling.

Sir Mark told the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee that, despite more recent successful efforts to bring some of the perpetrators to justice, irreparable damage had been done in the early days of the investigation.

"The sad truth is that if you do such a bad job at an investigation in its first weeks and months you lose evidence ... some of it can never be recovered," he said.

"You miss forensic opportunities. You miss witness opportunities and witnesses' memories degrade."

Findings from the 1999 Sir WIlliam Macpherson inquiry found the investigation was impacted by institutional racism within the Met, as well as incompetence to fully investigate and to manage the team.

The Macpherson report was highly critical of detectives' choice not to make arrests until two weeks after the murder, despite being tipped off about suspects' names within 24 hours.

Stephen had been walking home when he was targeted, beaten and stabbed by a group of six men.

Six suspects have been named publicly over the years - namely Gary Dobson, brothers Neil and Jamie Acourt, Luke Knight, David Norris and more recently Matthew White.

Only two however, Norris and Dobson, were convicted and jailed for the murder in 2012 - 19 years later.

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A full statement is expected later on Thursday over the update.

Susie Beever