Four police officers could be prosecuted over alleged misconduct during the investigation into the racist murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has passed a file of evidence to prosecutors to consider charges of misconduct in public office. The former Metropolitan Police officers, who have not been officially named, were in senior roles during the first few weeks of the 1993 murder investigation. Stephen, 18, was stabbed to death during an unprovoked racist attack, and only two of at least five men suspected of involvement have been jailed for murder. Since 2015, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has been investigating alleged corruption in the original investigation, which ended without a successful prosecution.
“Following thorough and careful analysis of the evidence, we have decided there is an indication that four former officers may have committed the offence of misconduct in public office in relation to their actions and omissions prior to the arrests of the five key suspects for Stephen’s murder in 1993,” said IOPC regional director Sarah Green. “All four former officers were in senior roles at various times during the first few weeks of the investigation.”
Read more; Lizzie Dearden, Independent, https://is.gd/5aMdq7
