Metropolitan Police move Stephen Lawrence murder investigation into ‘inactive phase’

The decision by the Metropolitan Police decision to move the investigation into the murder of Stephen Lawrence to the ‘inactive phase’ has been met with disappointment and sadness.

The decision comes after Detectives concluded that "all identified lines of inquiry have been completed.” In the statement, released yesterday evening, The Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, Cressida Dick, said:

“This was an appalling racist murder and I am sad that we have been unable to secure further convictions for Stephen, his family and friends. I, and the senior investigator in charge of the case, Chris Le Pere, have met with Baroness Lawrence and Mr Lawrence and fully explained the work the team have been doing, and why we are now at this stage. “The investigation has now moved to an ‘inactive’ phase, but I have given Stephen’s family the assurance that we will continue to deal with any new information that comes to light.

She added:

“The investigation into Stephen’s murder will also be periodically reviewed for any further investigative opportunities which may arise, for example with advances in technology.”

Stephen Lawrence, 18, was murdered in Eltham, South East London, 22 April 1993, in an unprovoked racist attack. He was with his friend Duwayne Brooks when he was attacked by a group of men on Well Hall Road in Eltham. Gary Dobson and David Norris were convicted of his murder in 2012 but the case had remained open as police searched for further leads to find others who were involved.

“Whilst the Metropolitan Police have given up, I never will”

In a press statement released in response to the decision, the Mother of Stephen Lawrence stated that she was “truly disappointed” that others who were equally responsible for her son's racist killing may not be brought to justice. She thanked Clive Driscoll, who was the Senior Investigating Officer responsible for the conviction of Gary Dobson and David Norris for his role in the investigation. Regarding the decision, she further added that:

“Despite this, I would still urge anyone who has any information that could help me get all of Stephen's killers convicted, to come forward. It is never too late to give a mother justice for the murder of her son. Whilst the Metropolitan Police have given up, I never will."

Many in the Black community think the timing of this announcement by the Met is completely misjudged. First we are witnessing the longest and deepest Black political protest via the Black lives matter movement in which tens of thousands of young people right across the UK have taken to the streets demanding the State acknowledge and confront institutional racism.

Along with this is the added fact of the growing levels of 'Black Stop and Searches'. Some have posted: ‘See, Black lives don’t matter when it comes to the Met police’.