Stephen Lawrence's mum says police who botched murder probe 'got away scot free'

06 July 2023 , 18:21

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Stephen Lawrence was 18 when he was killed in a racist attack in south London in 1993 (Image: The Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon OBE)

Stephen Lawrence's mother has slammed police who botched the probe into her son's murder as it's emerged four retired detectives will not face criminal charges.

Baroness Doreen Lawrence, 70, says the officers "got away scot free" following the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announcement - which she branded a "disgrace - that no charges will be brought.

But the mum, who in the 30 years since the tragedy has continued to campaign for justice and for other victims of racist crime, said she will now seek a review of the CPS decision.

In a statement, Baroness Lawrence said "not a single police officer has been disciplined or will be charged" over the investigation, adding: "In my opinion the police have, yet again, got away scot free".

Baroness Doreen Lawrence is 'bitterly disappointed' the retired detectives will not face criminal charges (Getty Images)

"After 30 years in which there have been countless police investigations, a police complaint and a public inquiry I thought there might be some hope of holding those police officers who failed me and my son to account," the mum of three added.

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Stephen was 18 when he was killed in a racist attack in south London in 1993.

But the initial Metropolitan Police investigation failed to bring anyone to justice.

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.

Stephen was 18 when he was murdered as he waited at a bus stop in Eltham, southeast London (PA)

A memorial for Stephen is at the scene where he was murdered (STEVE FINN PHOTOGRAPHY)

Announcing its decision today, the CPS conceded it "may be deeply disappointing" to Stephen's family.

Nick Price, head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said the service has offered to meet with close family members "to explain our decision in detail".

CPS began investigating a dossier of evidence into their alleged mishandling of the murder three years ago.

But while the officers have been investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), the CPS chose not to pursue a criminal prosecution, after considering a file of evidence for nearly three years.

Stephen's mother gave evidence to Home Affairs Select Committee at a public inquiry into undercover policing (PA)

The retired officers investigated were:

• Detective Superintendent Ian Crampton, who was senior investigating officer (SIO) for the first four days of the murder investigation

• Detective Superintendent Brian Weeden, who took over as SIO from Mr Crampton and was in charge for 14 months

• Detective Inspector Benjamin Bullock, who acted as deputy SIO under Mr Crampton and Mr Weeden

• Detective Chief Superintendent William Ilsley, who oversaw the team responsible for the first murder investigation

Neville Lawrence, Stephen's father, said in 2018 he sadly no longer thinks about his son's remaining killers being brought to justice (PA)

A public inquiry led by Sir William Macpherson in 1999 said the first Lawrence murder investigation was "marred by a combination of professional incompetence, institutional racism and a failure of leadership by senior officers".

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Arrests did not happen for two weeks, despite police receiving information implicating four of the prime suspects within 24 hours of the stabbing.

In 2020, the IOPC passed a file of evidence to the CPS, which was asked to consider whether they may have committed the criminal offence of misconduct in public office. The case, though, was soon filed as "inactive" by police themselves.

The criminal offence of misconduct in public office is committed when the office holder acts - or fails to act - in a way that constitutes a breach of the duties of that office.

Speaking in a TV interview after the case was declare "inactive", Baroness Lawrence said: "It's just going to be dormant. There is no way anybody is going to come forward now I don't think, after so many years.

"I think the opportunity was there in the beginning but they missed that opportunity and, then later on when we eventually got the conviction, there was the opportunity to continue and they closed that down."

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."

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

Bradley Jolly