‘Police Corruption’ at the heart of Lawrence investigation

Both the Prime Minister David Cameron and the Home Secretary Theresa May have viewed the review of police corruption with the Stephen Lawrence murder investigation as ‘profoundly shocking’.

As a direct result to these initial findings the Home Secretary has ordered a Judge led public inquiry into incidents such as undercover officers purporting act for, and on behalf of the Lawrence family whilst seeking to wilfully discredit the family and their associates

Retired Scotland Yard undercover officer Peter Francis said last year that he was instructed in 1993 to find information that could discredit the Lawrence family.

The review released today said there were "reasonable grounds" to suspect corruption by a former Met officer, Det Sgt John Davidson who was part of the senior team leading the investigation.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mrs May said:

"Policing stands damaged today. Trust and confidence in the Metropolitan Police and policing more generally is vital. A public inquiry and the other work I have set out are part of the process of repairing the damage. Stephen Lawrence was murdered over 20 years ago and it is still deplorable that his family have had to wait so many years for the truth to emerge."

Stephen’s mother Baroness Doreen Lawrence stated that she was ‘shocked but not surprised’.

Simon Woolley