965 days after police corruption investigation was completed, still no action
Prosecutors have yet to decide whether to bring charges over claims of corruption in the botched Stephen Lawrence murder probe – 965 days after an investigation was completed, it has emerged.
It comes after the Met was forced to admit it may have missed the chance to bring a sixth suspect to justice over Stephen’s killing following a BBC investigation.
Witnesses said Matthew White, who died in 2021, was present at the time Stephen and his friend Duwayne Brooks were attacked in 1993.
But the initial Met investigation – which was widely discredited and led to the force being branded “institutionally racist” – failed to follow-up on a number of opportunities to prosecute him.
In 2014, the National Crime Agency – under the management of the police watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) – began investigating claims of corruption over the initial handling of Stephen’s killing.
The IOPC says it “comprehensively explored” all the issues referred to in the BBC investigation and passed on a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service to see if four former senior officers should face charges in November 2020.
But 965 days after the investigation was completed, the CPS confirmed a decision is yet to be made.
Martin Underhill, a former Detective Inspector and Police and Crime Commissioner, told i he finds the fact the CPS have yet to make a decision on criminal charges “astonishing”.
“How can the CPS take three years to make a decision of something of such national importance?” he added.
“It’s outrageous with [Met Commissioner] Mark Rowley trying to convince people he’s leading the Met into a new era.”
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, said: “It is very concerning that, three years after the IOPC file of evidence on misconduct was provided to the CPS, there still has not been any response on a charging decision.
“Given the seriousness of this case, these long delays and any further necessary investigations must be urgently addressed. The Lawrence family have already endured so much injustice, they should not have to keep waiting for answers and action.
“Labour has been very clear that our British model of policing by consent relies on the trust and confidence of the public. Rebuilding trust depends on proper transparency and action where justice fails.”
A spokesperson for the IOPC said: “The issues that have been raised were comprehensively explored as part of our investigation into whether corruption played a part in the original investigation into the murder of Stephen Lawrence and the attack on Duwayne Brooks.
“That investigation, conducted by the National Crime Agency under our direction and control, was completed in November 2020.
“A file of evidence was provided to the Crown Prosecution Service to consider whether four former officers may have committed the offence of misconduct in public office in relation to their actions and omissions in the early stages of the investigation into Stephen’s murder in 1993. We await a charging decision.”
A CPS spokesperson said: “We are currently reviewing a file received from the Independent Office for Police Conduct after a referral in 2021.
“Our thoughts continue to be with Stephen’s family and friends, and have always remained so since his tragic murder in 1993.”
Stephen was 18 when he was stabbed to death by a group of attackers in Eltham, south-east London, in April 1993.
Five of the suspects – Gary Dobson, Neil and Jamie Acourt, Luke Knight and David Norris – have been named publicly many times.
Dobson and Norris were convicted in 2012 following a DNA breakthrough.
Today the force – still reeling from a series of scandals that led to the resignation of former Commissioner Cressida Dick – has been forced to admit it may have missed a chance to bring a sixth suspect to justice and name him publicly for the first time.
Soon after Stephen was attacked in 1993, witnesses told police that Matthew White was among those present.
But a BBC investigation found multiple flaws in how White, who died in 2021, was treated both during the original investigation and the years that followed.
Detectives failed to speak to his stepfather Jack Severs who was prepared to tell police White had admitted being present during the attack and that Stephen “deserved” what happened to him.
The Met has apologised after failing to investigate White properly despite evidence his alibi was false and the fact he bore a striking resemblance to an artist’s impression of a “fair-haired” attacker that was produced at the time.
Evidence was twice presented to the Crown Prosecution Service for charges against White but both times the CPS said there was no realitic prospect of conviciton.
Mr Underhill said the fresh revelations around the Stephen Lawrence case will not “inspire confidence” that the Met is improving.
“They’ve had to name [Matthew White] because of a journalist’s story,” said Mr Underhill.
“The public will be looking at it thinking, ‘what else hasn’t come out about Stephen Lawrence?’
“It seems like every time there’s a headline in this case, another skeleton comes out of the closet. How many more are there?
“There are still individual officers in the Met and the NCA and various other forces who could unlock the Stephen Lawrence story – the fact they’ve retired shouldn’t stop them coming forward.”
Met chief ‘suggested detectives drop investigation’
In 2006, Det Ch Insp Clive Driscoll took over the murder investigation and secured the convictions of Dobson and Norris in 2012.
He also tracked Mr Severs down in 2013 when following up leads about White, as he attempted to bring the remaining suspects to justice.
However, he claims his superior officer at the time, Cressida Dick, told him not to continue to pursue anyone else.
He told the BBC: “There is no doubt that there wasn’t the enthusiasm to carry on,” adding that the “Sword of Damocles” was hanging over his team of detectives.
Revelations latest scandal for botched investigation
In 2020, then Commissioner Cressida Dick declared the Lawrence case “inactive”, saying that all identified lines of inquiry had been followed.
The BBC investigation found that Matthew White was treated as a witness for much of the initial investigation, rather than a suspect.
As well as missing the chance to interview his stepfather in 1993, the Met also failed to track him down in 2000 when another witness came forward saying that White had admitted being part of the attack.
The Met was also asked to look at White during a 1997 review of the case carried out by Kent Police but this recommendation was not properly followed up.
Responding to the latest developments, the Met once again apologised for mistakes made around the Stephen Lawrence investigation and took the unusual step of naming White two years after his death.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward said: “The impact of the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence and attack on Duwayne Brooks, and subsequent inquiries, continues to be felt throughout policing.
“Unfortunately, too many mistakes were made in the initial investigation and the impact of them continues to be seen.
“On the 30th anniversary of Stephen’s murder, Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley apologised for our failings and I repeat that apology today.”
