From Blacknet UK

MURDERED: Stephen Lawrence was stabbed to death in 1993 in an unprovoked racist attack

AN INVESTIGATION into evidence given to the Stephen Lawrence murder inquiry by a former Metropolitan Police chief has been expanded to include other senior officers.

Last month, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) confirmed it was investigating the evidence ex-Met Police commissioner Lord John Stevens gave to the Macpherson Inquiry in 1998.

In an outline of its investigation, the IPCC said in a statement that they were investigating “whether there was a failure of top rank or very senior police officers including, but not limited to, the former Metropolitan Police Service commissioner Lord Stevens to provide full, frank and truthful information on the issue of corruption to the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry in 1998″.

The documents are believed to relate to long-standing claims made by Stephen’s parents, Doreen and Neville Lawrence, that corruption played a part in police bungling of the case.

Stevens was deputy commissioner of the Met at the time of the public inquiry, which was chaired by Lord Macpherson. As deputy commissioner, he oversaw the anti-corruption command.

Stevens has previously denied any wrongdoing.

The investigation is in its early stages and is overseen by IPCC Deputy Chair, Sarah Green.

The IPCC added it would also investigate why no further response was provided to the inquiry following a formal request to be updated on developments about relevant anti-corruption enquiries.

The report was ordered following concerns about the force’s investigation into the murder of 18-year-old Stephen, who was stabbed to death in an unprovoked racist attack by a gang of white youths in April 1993.

In a letter sent to the inquiry in June 1998, Lord Stevens said no officer or former officer involved in giving evidence at the inquiry was under investigation for corruption.

However, a review of the case last year by Mark Ellison QC found corruption allegations about a Met Police detective who worked on the original investigation into the killing should have been revealed to the inquiry.

Following the release of the Ellison review last year, Stephen’s father, complained to the Met Police, which referred itself to the IPCC.

It took more than 18 years to bring two of Stephen’s murderers – Gary Dobson and David Norris – to justice. They were found guilty by a jury at the Old Bailey in January 2012, and given life sentences.

The pair had initially been arrested along with three other men in 1993, but prosecutors decided there was insufficient evidence to bring charges.

Then in 2007 the case was reviewed following a BBC documentary which raised fresh questions about the suspects.

After using new forensic technology police charged Dobson and Norris with the murder in 2011.

IMAGES:
Profile photo of Stephen Lawrence The Voice Online
INVESTIGATED: Former Metropolitan Police chief Lord Stevens

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