Met’s handling of new evidence about Stephen Lawrence case to be reviewed

The mayor of London has announced that a self-governing police team will evaluate the way the Metropolitan police dealt with fresh proof connected to the homicide of Stephen Lawrence, which happened three decades ago.

The latest news is that Mark Rowley, who is the Met commissioner, said sorry to Doreen Lawrence, the mother of Stephen. He had previously told her he would give her answers to queries about the BBC's inquiry into the harsh killing of her son in 1993, but failed to do so.

London's mayor, Sadiq Khan, expressed his belief that the police had failed the Lawrence family. Consequently, Rowley is requesting that another police force examine the way the Met handled new evidence.

According to the BBC, Lady Lawrence was guaranteed an elucidation following the broadcaster's identification of Matthew White as the sixth potential offender in the matter in the previous year.

A group of individuals with racist beliefs killed Stephen Lawrence when he and his friend Duwayne Brooks were on their way to catch a bus in the area of Eltham, which is located in the south-east part of London. This tragic event occurred in April of 1993.

Just two individuals responsible for his murder, namely Gary Dobson and David Norris, have been apprehended and prosecuted.

When questioned about his trust in the Met to handle the situation, Khan expressed that he believes the police force has failed the family for the past 30 years.

According to a recent report by Dame Louise Casey, the police service still displays signs of institutional racism. This discovery presents an opportunity for us to gather valuable insights.

Today, I had a honest chat with Sir Mark Rowley. He plans to request a distinct police team to analyze the evaluation done by the Metropolitan Police concerning the new proof.

I hope this brings comfort to the Lawrence family, especially Doreen. With the new leadership in the Metropolitan Police Service, I am confident that they will put even more effort into proving to Doreen and her family that they have learned from past mistakes.

A representative of the Met declared that although they haven't found any other possible leads to follow, they understand the worries of Baroness Lawrence and the importance of this case. As a result, they will be seeking assistance from an external force to look into their methods.

When investigating Stephen's death, the Met was hindered by racist practices within the institution. Additionally, there were allegations that dishonest officers worked to shield Norris from the investigation. It is worth noting that Norris' father, Clifford Norris, was known for dealing drugs.

In June of this year, the BBC reported about the late White, who passed away at the age of 50 in 2021, and detailed how the mishandling of evidence occurred in his case.

According to two bystanders' claims, White has admitted to being involved in the assault. One of the witnesses, who also happened to be White's stepfather, was not questioned by the police until two decades later, due to an erroneous identification made by law enforcement officials in the past.

According to the Metropolitan Police, White was detained twice in relation to the slaying, but in both instances, there was insufficient proof to pursue a legal case.

Rowley acknowledged that this is an especially challenging period for both the Lawrence family and Duwayne Brooks. He expressed regret that our delay in responding promptly has contributed to their distress.

In addition to the numerous past disappointments, this current situation is absolutely intolerable.

Making sure that people can trust the Metropolitan Police is very important to me, and this involves how we interact with people who have been impacted by past mistakes.

I am sorry to Baroness Lawrence as she must have many inquiries that require responses. I have already reached out to her through a letter and proposed a possible meeting.