Published on The Holloway Express at https://hollowayexpress.org.uk/the-stephen-lawrence-inquiry-at-london-met/
Dr Neville Lawrence, father of Stephen Lawrence, and Cressida Dick, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service, have spoken from the stage of The Great Hall at London Metropolitan University at the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry conference.
More than 20 years have passed since that 22 April 1993 when the 19-year-old Stephen Lawrence was brutally murdered at a bus stop in Eltham – an event that shook a nation to its core.
The event, organised by the John Grieve Centre, was an opportunity to analyse what the nation learnt from Stephen’s murder and what still needs to be done to tackle the issue of hate crime.
Whilst the panellists carried on with their talks, the audience was adding suggestions on police training, collaboration projects, support for communities and research through the 10kv app.
The aim was to create a live document made out of suggestions and feedback to improve policing procedures and discuss contemporary challenges. The document has been submitted to The John Grieve Centre and will be introduced to policy-makers.
The father of Stephen, Dr Neville Lawrence opened the event with a reflection on London life and experience of policing for black families after losing Stephen. He said: “It took us three years or so until we knew what happened that night.
“The day after my son’s murder I thought it would be in the papers the following day and I thought there would be an outcry. No, there was nothing.”
Following Stephen’s murder, his family complained to the police because they felt not much was being done to catch the killers.
The case was dropped several times because of the lack of evidence, mistakes and corruption in the police force – and it took years for the killers to be charged.
The Stephen Lawrence Inquiry highlighted major problems in the system and it still remains today a shining light on institutional racism.
“People who have committed murder and go to prison for 20 years and then are released can come out, pick up their lives and carry on,” Dr Lawrence told the audience.
“I still visit my son’s grave and see people he grew up with having their own children and all I can think is whether he would have had his own. So, it is very hard to move on”.
The conference called for deep changes in the way that police approach and deal with hate crimes, especially after the rise in knife and gun crime in London.
The Commissioner of the Met Police, Cressida Dick, brought into the discussion the police prospective about developments and achievements. “Two things have changed enormously. The impact of science and technology in policing, and the fact that we are so much accountable, better governed, transparent, diverse and much fuller of integrity.”
She also pointed out some situations and methods of investigation that haven’t changed, regarding the relationship between police and minority groups in particular. “We should recognise that there is still a gap of confidence between the police and different communities.
Reducing that gap is one of my highest priorities. We can see some positive change, not fast enough for me, but some change.”
The changes needed are not only linked to the way police deal with minorities but also they are needed within the Met Police Service itself. “We must have a zero tolerance approach towards racism in policing and we should be disappointed by our representation of BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) in the Met Police,” she said.
“Since the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry it has drastically improved but there is still a long way to go.”
The conference hosted activists and volunteers that are tackling hate crime against minorities through associations, charities and activities in local communities.
Hate crime against the Jewish communities has reported being on the rise in London and Manchester. Last year, The Community Security Trust (CST) recorded 100 anti-Semitic offences per month for the first time ever.
Johnny Newton, Head of Government Affairs and External Relations at CST, said that the aim of the Trust is to educate policemen to understand the culture of the Jewish Community so they can police it better.
Stop and Search was a huge topic at the conference and panellists called for prompt changes. Neena Samota, member of StopWatch, Chair of Voice4Change, and programme lead, St. Mary’s University said: “We find that the way stop and search is being used is to target groups of people rather than places.”
At the end of the day, Professor John Grieve , QPM, MSc, reported that the guests compiled a document with 34k words, the longest that the conference has ever registered. Professor Grieve is a former senior Metropolitan police officer and former head of the Criminal Intelligence Branch.
Dr Lawrence concluded the conference. He was moved by the event and thanked the participants. “Although it was very very hard to lose my first son, I am happy that this case has helped many other people,” he said.
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