Sir Mark Rowley will ask an independent police force to review the Metropolitan Police’s handling of the latest evidence into Stephen Lawrence’s murder, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has said.
On the 31st anniversary of the murder of Stephen Lawrencethe Metropolitan Police have issued an apology to his mother, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, and his family for their handling of the latest evidence.
Stephen was stabbed in a racist attack in south-east London as he ran to catch a bus with his friend Duwayne Brooks on April 22, 1993.
Last year, it emerged that there was a sixth suspect allegedly involved in the 18-year-old’s murder.
Only two people, Gary Dobson and David Norris, were brought to justice for the crime.
Estevão Lourenço. Photo: PA
Baroness Lourenço. Photo: PA
Dobson and Norris were sentenced to life in prison in 2012 and charges against the other three suspects were dropped due to lack of evidence.
The BBC named Matthew White as the sixth suspect in the murder in June last year. He died at age 50 in 2021.
The Metropolitan Police apologized to Ms. Lawrence after failing to give her an explanation of White’s involvement.
The force will now have its handling of the latest evidence assessed by an independent police force, Khan said.
Speaking to Sky News, he said: “I have had a frank conversation with Sir Mark Rowley today – he will ask a separate police force to look at the assessment the Metropolitan Police have made in relation to the new evidence.
“I hope this reassures the Lawrence family – Doreen in particular – that under the new leadership of the Metropolitan Police they will redouble their efforts to ensure the police have learned the lessons of the past.
“Sir Mark wants a separate police force, which has the confidence of the Lawrence family, to review the Met Police assessment to reassure the public that this police service in London now has nothing to hide.”
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On the anniversary of the murder that forced a rethink of policing in the UK, the Mayor of London added: “We are all thinking of Doreen and her family today on the 31st anniversary of Stephen’s brutal racist murder.
“The family has been let down by police officers over three decades. Dame Louise Casey found in her recent report that the police are still institutionally racist.
“I think there are lessons to be learned.”
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